praetorianism

[ pree-tawr-ee-uh-niz-uhm, -tohr- ]

noun
  1. the control of a society by force or fraud, especially when exercised through titular officials and by a powerful minority.

Origin of praetorianism

1
First recorded in 1865–70; praetorian + -ism

Words Nearby praetorianism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use praetorianism in a sentence