専制(せんせい)

せんせい
noun
despotism, autocracy, tyranny
1. despotism, autocracy, tyranny
A system of government or leadership in which one person or group holds absolute power without checks or democratic processes. Used in political, historical, and sometimes figurative contexts.
専制(せんせい)政治(せいじ)が長(なが)く続(つづ)いた。
The despotic rule lasted for a long time.
国民(こくみん)は専制(せんせい)君主(くんしゅ)に反発(はんぱつ)した。
The people revolted against the despotic monarch.
歴史(れきし)の授業(じゅぎょう)で専制(せんせい)と民主制(みんしゅせい)の違(ちが)いについて学(まな)んだ。
In history class, we learned about the difference between autocracy and democracy.

USAGE:
Primarily used in political and historical discourse. Carries a strongly negative connotation. Can modify nouns directly: 専制(せんせい)政治(せいじ) (despotic rule), 専制(せんせい)君主(くんしゅ) (despot, autocrat).

RELATED WORDS:

  • 独裁(どくさい): dictatorship — more commonly used in modern political contexts
  • 暴政(ぼうせい): tyrannical government — emphasizes cruelty and oppression

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 専制(せんせい)政治(せいじ): despotic rule
  • 専制(せんせい)君主(くんしゅ): autocratic monarch, despot
  • 専制(せんせい)国家(こっか): autocratic state
general
Added 2026.3.19 8:07
17500/17739_sensei