[klep-tuh-krat] 
| a government official who is a thief or exploiter. |
| a government or state in which those in power exploit national resources and steal; rule by a thief or thieves. |
, noun , adjective | klep·toc·ra·cy (klěp-tŏk'rə-sē) n. pl. klep·toc·ra·cies A government characterized by rampant greed and corruption. [Greek kleptein, to steal + -cracy.] klep'to·crat' (-tə-krāt') n., klep'to·crat'ic adj. |
təˌkræt