Vocabulary • Greek Root Study
Complete Infographic: English Words from the Greek Root Kratos (Power / Rule)
The Greek root kratos means power, rule, or authority.
This infographic-style block organises all major –cracy, –crat, and –cratic words
into simple study cards for students and teachers. 📚
Suffix –cracy
Forms of Government / Rule ⚖️
Words ending in –cracy describe different kinds of rule or power.
- Democracy – rule by the people.
- Autocracy – rule by one person with absolute power.
- Aristocracy – rule by the noble or elite class.
- Bureaucracy – rule by officials and departments.
- Theocracy – rule by religious authority.
- Technocracy – rule by technical experts.
- Plutocracy – rule by the wealthy.
- Meritocracy – power based on merit or ability.
- Gerontocracy – rule by the elderly.
- Kleptocracy – rule by corrupt, stealing leaders.
- Ochlocracy / Mobocracy – rule by a mob or crowd.
- Stratocracy – rule by the military.
- Gynæcocracy / Gynocracy – rule by women.
- Androcracy – rule by men.
- Thalassocracy – rule through sea power.
- Timocracy – rule based on honour and property.
- Kakistocracy – rule by the worst or least qualified.
- Cryptocracy – rule by hidden or secret powers.
- Pancracy – universal or unlimited power.
- Isocracy – equal political power for all citizens.
- Pantisocracy – utopian system where all share equal rule.
Tip: –cracy = type of government or rule.
Suffix –crat
People Who Hold Power 👤
Words ending in –crat name people who hold or support a type of power.
- Democrat – supporter of democracy / rule by the people.
- Autocrat – single ruler with absolute power.
- Aristocrat – member of a noble or elite ruling class.
- Technocrat – expert influencing or directing policy.
- Theocrat – religious ruler or leader in a theocracy.
- Plutocrat – very rich person with political influence.
- Bureaucrat – government or administrative official.
- Meritocrat – person who gains position through merit.
Tip: –crat = person with or supporting that type of power.
Suffix –cratic
Describing the Style of Rule 🏛️
Words ending in –cratic describe how power is organised.
- Democratic – related to rule by the people.
- Autocratic – related to absolute personal rule.
- Aristocratic – related to noble or elite rule.
- Bureaucratic – controlled by procedures and officials.
- Technocratic – dominated by experts and specialists.
- Plutocratic – dominated by the wealthy.
- Theocratic – guided by religious law or leaders.
- Meritocratic – based on merit, talent and effort.
Tip: –cratic = having the character of that kind of rule.
Advanced Vocabulary
Rare & Academic Uses 📖
Higher-level terms useful for advanced students and competitive exams.
- Idiocracy – informal: rule by foolish or incompetent leaders.
- Thalassocratic empire – sea-based empire controlling trade routes.
- Neurocracy – theoretical rule of the nervous system (medical context).
Use these terms in essays on politics, history, and governance.
Root Meaning
What Does Kratos Mean? 🔍
Core meaning behind all these words.
- Greek: kratos (κράτος).
- Basic meaning: power, rule, authority, might.
- In English: appears as –cracy, –crat, –cratic.
- Understanding this root helps decode many political and social terms.
Root = kratos → “power / rule / authority”.