theocracy

Definitions

theo (god) + -cracy (rule, power, from Greek kratos) = "rule by god." In practice it means a state governed by religious authority — priests or sacred law holding political power. Same pattern as democracy (rule by the people) and aristocracy (rule by the best).

Common Collocations

• 1.establish a theocracy建立神权国家
• 2.religious theocracy宗教神权政治
• 3.theocracy and democracy神权政治与民主
• 4.live under a theocracy生活在神权统治下

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The country was run as a strict theocracy for decades.

• 2.

  Critics warned that the reforms could turn the state into a theocracy.