Dictionary

tin-pot dictator en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [-ɾəɹ] (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ˌtɪnˌpɑt ˈdɪkˌteɪtəɹ/ (General-American)
• /ˌtɪnpɒt dɪkˈteɪtə/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From tin-pot (“of inferior quality, shoddy; insignificant or minor, especially in an amusing and petty manner”) + dictator, referring to the cheapness and poor quality of pots made from tin or tin plate.

Meanings

1. (derogatory) An autocratic ruler with little political credibility, typically having delusions of grandeur.
   • Africa has no more tolerance for tinpot dictators. 2022 January 18, Jay Naidoo, “The naked emperor: We must act now on the dystopian dream of Eswatini’s tinpot dictator”, in Daily Maverick:
   • Broder did mention in passing that the Reagan administration had earlier supported the "tin-pot dictator" and drug trader Manuel Noriega, but he never mentioned George Shultz's presence and sanctioning of the fraudulent Panamanian election of 1984, which left Noriega in charge. 1995, Edward S. Herman, Triumph of the Market: Essays on Economics, Politics, and the Media, South End Press, →ISBN, page 197:

Forms

Deriveds

tin-pot dictatorship

Translations (1)

fi pikkudiktaattori (autocratic ruler with little political credibility)