Definition of KAKISTOCRACY

kakistocracy

Plural: kakistocracies

Noun

  • Government under the control of a nation's worst or least-qualified citizens.

Origin / Etymology

From Ancient Greek κάκιστος (kákistos, “worst”), superlative of κακός (kakós, “bad”) + -κρατία (-kratía, “power, rule, government”) (corresponding to -cracy). The word was used, perhaps re-coined, by the English author Thomas Love Peacock (1785–1866) in his 1829 novella The Misfortunes of Elphin as the opposite of aristocracy (see second quotation).

Scrabble Score: 27

kakistocracy: not valid in Scrabble (US) TWL Dictionary
kakistocracy: not valid in Scrabble (MW) Merriam-Webster Dictionary
kakistocracy: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 0

kakistocracy: not valid in Words With Friends