theocracy

Noun

a political unit governed by a deity (or by officials thought to be divinely guided)
the belief in government by divine guidance
Government under the control of a state religion.
Rule by a god.

Examples

"The Vatican City State is a sovereign city-state and a Christian theocracy ruled by the Pope."
"Tibet was a Buddhist theocracy ruled by the Dalai Lama prior to Chinese annexation."

Origin / Etymology

From theo- + -cracy, originally from Ancient Greek θεοκρατία (theokratía, “rule of (a) God”), a term coined in the 1st century by Josephus (Against Apion 2.17) in reference to the ancient Israelite polity under the Mosaic covenant. Attested in English from the 1620s, first by John Donne in A Sermon upon the fifth of November 1622. being the Anniversary celebration of our Deliverance from the Powder Treason: "The Jews were onely under a Theocratie, an immediate government of God..."

Scrabble Score: 19

theocracy is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
theocracy is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
theocracy is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

theocracy is a valid Words With Friends word