proctocracy

English

Etymology

First attested in March 2002; formed as procto- (“anus”) +‎ -cracy (“rule”); equivalent to a hypothetical Ancient Greek etymon of the form *πρωκτοκρατία (prōktokratía), from πρωκτός (prōktós, “anus”) + κράτος (krátos, “dominion”, “power”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: prŏktŏʹkrəsĭ, IPA^(key): /pɹɒkˈtɒkɹəsɪ/
• (UK) enPR: prŏktŏʹkrəsi, IPA^(key): /pɹɒkˈtɒkɹəsi/

Noun

proctocracy (plural not attested)

1. (humorous neologism, rare) Government or management by “arseholes” (i.e., inconsiderate, obnoxious, or otherwise highly objectionable people).
   • 2002 March 2nd, “ZONTAR JOHNSON”, alt.radio.oldtime, “REQ Stoopnagle and Budd TIA”, Message ID: <u7v68sdj1k6h99@corp.supernews.com>

     Come the Revolution we’ll have other Ass-holes ruling us.
     Long live the Proctocracy.

   • 2006 December 11th, “Catherine Deschevaux”, alt.quotations, “Re: Privatizing -er, Profitizing War”, Message ID: <hdmfh.6582$HU.4010@news-server.bigpond.net.au>

     It was instinctive dealing with the US proctocracy and its blinkered cheer-squad!

   • 2007, Tony Thorne, “proctoheliosis”, in Shoot the Puppy:

     A more recent workplace use of the same root is the notion of labouring under a proctocracy, defined as ‘rule by assholes’.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:proctocracy.

Related terms

• proctocrat