Nomocracy
/ˌnɒməˈkræsi/noun
Government according to law rather than by arbitrary power.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek *nomos* “law, custom” + *-kratia* “rule,” the same power-root behind *democracy* and *aristocracy*, where words literally encode who gets to command the world.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
nomos
“law, custom, or accepted order”
Ancient Greek
Greek
-kratia
“rule, power, domination”
Late Classical / Hellenistic Greek
Greek
nomokratia
“rule by law; government under law”
19th Century
English
nomocracy
“government based on law rather than arbitrary will”
Modern English
English
nomocracy
“a system of government in which the law is supreme”
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