timocracy

1 of 2

noun

ti·​moc·​ra·​cy tī-ˈmä-krə-sē How to pronounce timocracy (audio)
1
: government in which a certain amount of property is necessary for office
2
: government in which love of honor is the ruling principle
timocratic
ˌtī-mə-ˈkra-tik How to pronounce timocracy (audio)
adjective
or timocratical
ˌtī-mə-ˈkra-ti-kəl How to pronounce timocracy (audio)

timocratic

2 of 2

adjective

ti·​mo·​crat·​ic ¦tīmə¦kratik How to pronounce timocratic (audio)
variants or timocratical
-tə̇kəl How to pronounce timocratic (audio)
: of, relating to, or representative of timocracy

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tymotracie, from Middle French tymocracie, from Medieval Latin timocratia, from Greek timokratia, from timē price, value, honor + -kratia -cracy; akin to Greek tiein to honor, Sanskrit cāyati he respects

Adjective

timocratic from Greek timokratikos, from timokratia timocracy + -ikos -ic; timocratical from Greek timokratikos + English -al

First Known Use

Noun

1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of timocracy was in 1586

Rhymes for timocracy

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Browse Nearby Words

Timne
timocracy
timocratic
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Cite this Entry

“Timocracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/timocracy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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