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Absolutist: meaning, definitions and examples

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absolutist

 

[ หŒรฆb.sษ™หˆluห.tษชst ]

Noun / Adjective
Context #1 | Noun

political doctrine

An absolutist is a person who supports or advocates for absolute authority in governance, typically holding that power should not be limited by laws or other institutions. This viewpoint often aligns with monarchies or other forms of government where a single ruler has unchecked power. Absolutism was historically significant in many countries, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries. Those who identify as absolutists may argue that strong central authority can lead to stability and effective governance.

Synonyms

autocrat, dictator, tyrant

Examples of usage

  • The king ruled as an absolutist, making decisions without consulting anyone.
  • Many absolutists believed in the divine right of kings.
  • The era of absolutism saw kings expanding their power over the nobility.
Context #2 | Adjective

political theory

Describing a system of government in which a single entity holds absolute power, the term absolutist refers to political theories that advocate for this kind of central authority. In an absolutist state, laws may be arbitrary, and citizens have few rights compared to those made in more democratic systems. Absolutist ideologies can prioritize order and unity at the expense of individual freedoms.

Synonyms

authoritarian, dictatorial, totalitarian

Examples of usage

  • The absolutist government suppressed dissent and limited personal freedoms.
  • An absolutist regime often enforces its will through strict laws and regulations.
  • His absolutist views on governance attracted criticism from political reformers.

Translations

Translations of the word "absolutist" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น absolutista

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค…เคญเคฟเคœเคพเคคเคตเคพเคฆเฅ€

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Absolutist

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ absolutis

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฐะฑัะพะปัŽั‚ั–ัั‚

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ absolutysta

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ็ตถๅฏพไธป็พฉ่€…

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท absolutiste

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ absolutista

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท mutlakรงฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ ˆ๋Œ€์ฃผ์˜์ž

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงุณุชุจุฏุงุฏูŠ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ absolutista

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ absolutista

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ็ปๅฏนไธปไน‰่€…

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ absolutist

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ algjรถrhugsjรณnarmaรฐur

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฐะฑัะพะปัŽั‚ั‚ั–ัˆั–ะป

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒแƒ‘แƒกแƒแƒšแƒฃแƒขแƒ˜แƒกแƒขแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ absolutist

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ absolutista

Etymology

The term 'absolutist' traces its roots to the Latin 'absolutus,' meaning 'set free, free from,' which shares origins with the word 'absolute.' This Latin term emerged from 'ab-' (from) and 'solvere' (to loosen) to describe something that is not limited or restricted. The concept of absolutism gained significant traction in Europe during the early modern period, especially in the context of political philosophy and governance. It was closely associated with the rise of powerful monarchs who sought to centralize authority and diminish the power of nobility and other institutions. Thinkers such as Thomas Hobbes articulated frameworks that supported absolute governance, culminating in the idea that a sovereign's power is derived from a social contract where people relinquish certain freedoms for security and order. The notion became particularly influential from the 16th to the 18th centuries, especially in countries like France and Spain, leading to debates and eventual resistance that spurred democratic developments in the following centuries.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,144, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.