1. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
2. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
3. oppressive, dictatorial control.

1. A political regime, having totalitarian aspirations, ideologically based on a relationship between business and the centralized government, business-and-government control of the market place, repression of criticism or opposition, a leader cult and exalting the state and/or religion above individual rights. originally only applied (usually capitalized) to benito Mussolini's italy.
2. by vague analogy, any system of strong autocracy or oligarchy usually to the extent of bending and breaking the law, race-baiting and violence against largely unarmed populations.

1. a political theory advocating an authoritarian hierarchical government; -- opposed to
2. an authoritarian system of government under absolute control of a single dictator, allowing no political opposition, forcibly suppressing dissent, and rigidly controlling most industrial and economic activities. such regimes usually try to achieve popularity by a strongly nationalistic appeal, often mixed with racism.
3. specifically, the fascist movement led by benito Mussolini in italy from 1922 to 1943.
4. broadly, a tendency toward or support of a strongly authoritarian or dictatorial control of government or other organizations; -- often used pejoratively in this sense.

1. a political theory advocating an authoritarian hierarchical government (as opposed to democracy or liberalism)