timocracy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareFormal/Academic
Quick answer
What does “timocracy” mean?
A form of government in which possession of property is a prerequisite for participation in the state.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A form of government in which possession of property is a prerequisite for participation in the state.
In political philosophy, particularly from Plato's writings, it refers to a state where rulers are motivated by love of honor and material wealth, often seen as a degenerate form of aristocracy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; both variants use the term identically in academic contexts.
Connotations
Similarly neutral and technical in both British and American English.
Frequency
Equally infrequent in both dialects, primarily found in specialized texts.
Grammar
How to Use “timocracy” in a Sentence
NP be a timocracyV in a timocracythe timocracy of NPVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “timocracy” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The timocratic principles were evident in the land laws.
American English
- A timocratic approach to governance focuses on property qualifications.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable; rarely used in business contexts.
Academic
Common in political science, philosophy, and historical discussions.
Everyday
Very rare; almost never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Specific to political theory and comparative government.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “timocracy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “timocracy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “timocracy”
- Mispronunciation as /taɪˈmɒkrəsi/
- Misspelling as 'timocrasy' or 'tymocracy'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It comes from the Greek words 'timē' meaning honor or value, and '-cracy' meaning rule, so it literally means 'rule by the propertied'.
While not formally labeled as such, some argue that certain modern governments have timocratic elements, such as property requirements for voting in historical contexts.
Timocracy restricts political participation to property owners, whereas democracy ideally allows all citizens to participate regardless of wealth.
Ancient Athens before Solon's reforms is often cited as having timocratic features, where political rights were based on land ownership.
A form of government in which possession of property is a prerequisite for participation in the state.
Timocracy is usually formal/academic in register.
Timocracy: in British English it is pronounced /tɪˈmɒkrəsi/, and in American English it is pronounced /tɪˈmɑːkrəsi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'time' and 'ocracy' – but remember it's from Greek 'timē' for value, so a government valuing property.
Conceptual Metaphor
Government as a members-only club based on asset ownership.
Practice
Quiz
What best describes a timocracy?