demonocracy

From demono- +‎ -cracy.^[1] The second sense is a pun on democracy. First use appears c. 1713.

• Rhymes: -ɒkɹəsi

demonocracy (countable and uncountable, plural demonocracies)

1. A government by or of (supernatural) demons, such as the government which in some mythologies exists in Hell.
   • 1717, Elisha Coles, An English Dictionary - Explaining the Difficult Terms:

     Demonocracy, the Government of Devils ...

   • 1848, Frances Wright, England, The Civilizer: Her History Developed in its Principles:

     Thus we see, that while the theological and doctrinal poet inaugurated male supremacy in the person of the godhead in heaven, of humanity on earth, and of demonocracy in hell, so did the philosopher propound the universal prevalence, and irresistable omnipotence, of the male principle throughout the whole of existence.

   • 1904, Julius Goebel, “The Etymology of Mephistopheles”, in Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association, volume 35, page 148:

     […] a magic book printed in 1612, in which the various dignitaries of the demonocracy are described according to their rank and position.

   • 2014, Bob Carruthers (editor), The Gestapo on Trial - Evidence from Nuremberg, page 303:

     The effect of demonocracy in the wide world has become clear to you in some of the cases of the individual defendants.

2. A democracy. (when regarded as resulting in, or being no better than, a government run by figurative demons (i.e., malevolent people), or when otherwise held in contempt).
   • 1971, Sidney J. Slomich, The American Nightmare, page 206:

     Tuning in, turning on, and dropping out are the politics of demonocracy, the counsel of despair leaving the field to adversaries, […]

   • 2005-06, Matthew Bellamy, "Assassin", Black Holes and Revelations

     Oppose and disagree, destroy demonocracy.

• dumbocracy

• ecodormancy