Word-Built World: partocracy

Illustration: Anu Garg + AI

A.Word.A.Daywith Anu Garg

partocracy

PRONUNCIATION:

(par-TOK-ruh-see) 

MEANING:

noun: Government or rule by a single political party.

ETYMOLOGY:

From party, from Old French partie, from Latin partire (to divide, share) + Greek -cracy (rule). Probably modeled after Russian partokratija. Earliest documented use: 1966.

NOTES:

A partocracy is what happens when a country’s government turns into a single-party party and everyone else is uninvited. In theory, democracy gives every citizen a voice; in a partocracy, it’s the ruling party that does all the talking (and rarely listens).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *