one-man rule
Dictatorship by individual
One-man rule is government by a single individual with unchecked authority—a dictator, autocrat, or absolute monarch.
The term emphasizes concentration of power in one person rather than shared governance: The country descended into one-man rule after the coup.
It carries negative connotations of tyranny and the absence of democratic accountability.
- autocratSole wielder of power
- dictatorRuler with total control
- tyrantCruel, absolute ruler
- despotRuler with absolute power
- strongmanPowerful lifter or despot
supreme leader · absolute · absolute power · throne · iron fist · iron hand · totalitarian · authoritarian · single-party state · Caesar · tsar · supreme · overlord · monarchy · regime · oppression · power · seize power
- tyrannytyrant, despot, tyranny, dictator, autocracy
- Greek Politicsjunta, military junta, colonels, coalition government, ministers
one-man ruledemocracy
Rule by the people
popular sovereignty · self-governance · representative government · majority rule · pluralism
one-man ruleconstitutional government
Regime bound by charter
rule of law · constitutionalism · limited government · checks and balances · separation of powers
one, man, rule, ones, manly, manliness, manhood, mankind, manful