/ ɔːˈtɒkrəsi; NAmE ɔːˈtɑːk-/ noun ( pl. -ies ) (also aut·archy )
1.
[ U ] a system of government of a country in which one person has complete power
2.
[ C ] a country that is ruled by one person who has complete power
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent. (in the sense autonomy ): from Greek autokrateia , from autokratēs , from autos self + kratos power.