What is "ochlocracy"

Ochlocracy \Och*loc"ra*cy\, n. [Gr. ?; 'o`chlos the populace, multitude + kratei^n to be strong, to rule, kra`tos strength: cf. F. ochlocratie.] A form of government by the multitude; a mobocracy; mob rule.
--Hare.

"government by the rabble," 1580s, from French ochlocratie (1560s), from Greek okhlokratia (Polybius) "mob rule," the lowest grade of democracy, from kratos "rule, power, strength" (see -cracy) + okhlos "mob, populace," perhaps literally "moving mass," from PIE *wogh-lo-, from root *wegh- "to go, transport" in a vehicle (see weigh). For sense development, compare mob (n.). Related: Ochlocratic; ochlocratical. Greek also had okhlagogos "mob-leader, ochlagogue."

n. mob rule; government by the masses; mobocracy.

Ochlocracy (, okhlokratía; ) or mob rule is the rule of government by mob or a mass of people, or, the intimidation of legitimate authorities. As a pejorative for majoritarianism, it is akin to the Latin phrase mobile vulgus meaning "the fickle crowd", from which the English term "mob" originally was derived in the 1680s.

Ochlocracy ("rule of the general populace") is democracy ("rule of the people") spoiled by demagoguery, " tyranny of the majority", and the rule of passion over reason, just as oligarchy ("rule of a few") is aristocracy ("rule of the best") spoiled by corruption, and tyranny is monarchy spoiled by lack of virtue. Ochlocracy is synonymous in meaning and usage to the modern, informal term "mobocracy", which arose in the 18th century as a colloquial neologism.