Tyranny

Definition

Tyranny is a form of government in which absolute power is vested in a single ruler, often acquired by force rather than hereditary or democratic means. This type of rule is characterized by the suppression of opposition, lack of personal freedoms, and arbitrary use of power.

Related terms

Autocracy: A system of government in which supreme power is concentrated in the hands of one person, whose decisions are subject to neither external legal restraints nor regularized mechanisms of popular control.

Despotism: A form of government where a single entity rules with absolute power, and that rule is often oppressive and uses power to subjugate society.

Democracy:

A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives, emphasizing equality before the law and typically protecting individual freedoms