Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

tyranny

/ˈtɪəɹəni/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.52 in modern English

Syllables
tyr-an-ny
IPA
/ˈtɪəɹəni/
13
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A government in which a single ruler (a tyrant) has absolute power, or this system of government; especially, one that acts cruelly and unjustly.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The office or jurisdiction of an absolute ruler.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Absolute power, or its use.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A system of government in which power is exercised on behalf of the ruler or ruling class, without regard to the wishes of the governed.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Extreme severity or rigour.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English tirannye, from Old French tyrannie, from Medieval Latin tyrannia, tyrania, from Ancient Greek τυραννία (turannía, “tyranny”), from τύραννος (túrannos, “lord, master, sovereign, tyrant”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈtɪəɹəni/

Usage

Inflected Forms

tyrannies (plural)

Derived Forms

anarchotyranny tyrannical tyrannise tyrannist tyrannize

Phrases

anarcho-tyranny turnkey tyranny tyranny of the majority tyranny of the masses

Frequently Paired Words

tyrant autocracy monarchy

Synonyms

autocracy despotism dictatorship absolute monarchy tyranthood absolutism authoritarianism caesarism monocracy one-man rule shogunate stalinism

Questions

How do you pronounce tyranny?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈtɪəɹəni/.
What does tyranny mean?
A government in which a single ruler (a tyrant) has absolute power, or this system of government; especially, one that acts cruelly and unjustly.
Where does tyranny come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce tyranny

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “tyranny”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈtɪəɹəni/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “tyranny”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “tyranny” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.