ochlocracy
/ɑkˈlɑ.kɹə.si/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English
22
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
Example Sentences
- "Referendums are snapshots of sentiment at a given point in time. Government by referendum is government by crowd acclamation: not democracy, but ochlocracy. That is exactly why we have representative democracy. If referendums would be a poor way to decide on health and safety, air traffic control, or education, they are an exceedingly poor way to decide a matter as momentous as membership of the EU. This is and should be a matter for Parliament, taking all factors into account."
- "This constitutes a grave threat to the American Republic and degrades it into an Ochlocracy, or government by mob rule."
Etymology
From Middle French ochlocratie, from Ancient Greek ὀχλοκρατία (okhlokratía), from ὄχλος (ókhlos, “multitude, crowd”) + κράτος (krátos, “power”). Equivalent to ochlo- + -cracy.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ɑkˈlɑ.kɹə.si/
- British English: /ɒkˈlɒk.ɹə.si/