1. a form of government in which political power is held by those who own property or have wealth
Usage: political science; historical
2. a government in which love of honor is the ruling principle
Usage: classical political theory; rare

Examples

• Plato described timocracy as a government ruled by those seeking honor and glory.
• The ancient city-state operated as a timocracy where only wealthy landowners could vote.
• Critics argued that the system was essentially a timocracy favoring the propertied class.
• In Plato’s Republic, timocracy is presented as one of the imperfect forms of government.
• The philosopher distinguished between timocracy based on honor and plutocracy based on wealth.
• Some scholars view certain historical republics as examples of timocracy in practice.