Crat
/kræt/noun
An informal term for a person who advocates or supports a particular form of government or political system.
Did you know?“Crat” is a modern clipped form associated with words such as democrat and bureaucrat, while its ancient source, Greek krátos, meant power or might—not government itself.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kre-tes
“A reconstructed root associated with strength or power”
Ancient Greek
Greek
krátos
“Strength, power, might, or rule”
5th Century BCE
Greek
dēmokratía
“Rule or power of the people”
19th Century
English
-crat
“A combining form referring to a person who exercises or supports a particular kind of rule”
Modern English
English
crat
“An informal standalone shortening for a political advocate or adherent”
Explore more surprising origins