Meanings
nounpseudodemocracy (plural pseudodemocracies)
plural pseudodemocracies · alternative pseudo-democracy
- governmentA government that holds elections but restricts civil liberties.First known use 19th c.
It has long been an article of faith that these pseudodemocracies are inherently unstable.
2009 March 22, Kenneth Roth, “Ballots and Bullets”, in New York Times
Origin
Translations
Finnish pseudodemokratia
- pseudodemokratiaa government that holds elections but restricts civil liberties
French pseudo-démocratie
- pseudo-démocratiea government that holds elections but restricts civil liberties
German Pseudodemokratie
- Pseudodemokratiea government that holds elections but restricts civil liberties
Italian pseudodemocrazia
- pseudodemocraziaa government that holds elections but restricts civil liberties
Portuguese pseudodemocracia
- pseudodemocraciaa government that holds elections but restricts civil liberties
Romanian pseudodemocrație
- pseudodemocrațiea government that holds elections but restricts civil liberties
Spanish pseudodemocracia
- pseudodemocraciaa government that holds elections but restricts civil liberties
Cite this entry
APA
pseudodemocracy. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudodemocracy
MLA
“pseudodemocracy.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudodemocracy. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pseudodemocracy,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pseudodemocracy.
Source: pseudodemocracy on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.