corpocracy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C2)Formal, Critical, Academic, Political commentary
Quick answer
What does “corpocracy” mean?
A political or economic system characterized by excessive influence or control by large corporations.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A political or economic system characterized by excessive influence or control by large corporations; rule by corporate interests.
The intertwining of corporate and government power to the point where corporate priorities dictate public policy, often leading to inefficiency, lack of accountability, and prioritization of profit over public welfare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more common in American political discourse due to the prominent role of corporate lobbying.
Connotations
Highly negative in both varieties, suggesting systemic failure and undue influence.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech; found in specialized political, economic, or sociological texts and commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “corpocracy” in a Sentence
The [country/region] slid into a corpocracy.Critics warn of an emerging corpocracy.We must resist the drift toward corpocracy.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corpocracy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The system has been gradually corpocratised over the past two decades.
American English
- The political process was effectively corpocratized by lobbying efforts.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used critically, e.g., in discussions of business ethics or corporate social responsibility to warn against excessive corporate power.
Academic
Used in political science, sociology, and economics to describe a specific system of power relations.
Everyday
Virtually unused in casual conversation.
Technical
A descriptive, critical term in political economy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “corpocracy”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “corpocracy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corpocracy”
- Confusing with 'bureaucracy'.
- Using it as a neutral term for any corporate involvement in politics.
- Misspelling as 'corpocrasy' or 'corpocrisy'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's not an official or legally recognized form of government like a democracy or monarchy. It is a critical term used to describe a perceived condition where corporate power overwhelmingly influences or controls governance.
Plutocracy is rule by the wealthy, regardless of the source of their wealth (inheritance, finance, etc.). Corpocracy is a more specific form, implying rule by corporate institutions, their executives, and their collective financial and lobbying power.
Almost never. It is inherently a term of criticism and condemnation from a perspective that values democratic accountability and public welfare over corporate power.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialized term. You will encounter it in critical political writing, but not in news headlines or everyday conversation.
A political or economic system characterized by excessive influence or control by large corporations.
Corpocracy is usually formal, critical, academic, political commentary in register.
Corpocracy: in British English it is pronounced /kɔːˈpɒkrəsi/, and in American English it is pronounced /kɔːrˈpɑːkrəsi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The corporate tail wags the democratic dog. (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CORPoration + bureauCRACY = CORPOCRACY: rule by corporations instead of government bureaus.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A CORPORATION (a negative metaphor where the state is run like a profit-driven, unaccountable business).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a 'corpocracy'?