ɔːˌθɒrɪˈtɛːrɪən əˌθɔrəˈtɛriən dɪkˈteɪtə(ɹ) ˈdɪkteɪtəɹ ˈpəʊ.tən.teɪt ˈpoʊ.tən.teɪt a person who behaves in a tyrannical manner my boss is a dictator who makes everyone work overtime a ruler who is unconstrained by law a speaker who dictates to a secretary or a recording machine