A despot is a ruler who holds absolute power and exercises it in a tyrannical or oppressive manner. Despots often govern without regard for the wishes or needs of their people, and their rule is typically characterized by a lack of democratic processes, limited personal freedoms, and the use of force or coercion to maintain control. The term can also be used more broadly to describe anyone who wields power in an authoritarian or dictatorial way, whether in a political, social, or organizational context.