benevolent dictator for life

noun

The leader of an open-source software project, typically project founders, who retains the final say in disputes or arguments within the community.

First used 1995
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Meanings

nounbenevolent dictator for life (plural benevolent dictators for life)

plural benevolent dictators for life

  1. humorouscomputingThe leader of an open-source software project, typically project founders, who retains the final say in disputes or arguments within the community.First known use 1995

Origin

Originally applied to Dutch programmer Guido van Rossum, creator of the Python programming language, in an email from 1995. According to van Rossum, coined likely by either Ken Manheimer or Barry Warsaw.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

benevolent dictator for life. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/benevolent%20dictator%20for%20life

MLA

“benevolent dictator for life.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/benevolent%20dictator%20for%20life. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “benevolent dictator for life,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/benevolent%20dictator%20for%20life.

Source: benevolent dictator for life on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.