A theocracy is a country or community where religious leaders hold the political power, and where religious law IS the law of the land. Not a country where most people are religious, and not a country where a church is influential — in a theocracy the priests, imams or monks are the government, or the government answers to them, and what counts as a crime is decided by scripture rather than by a parliament.

The word is used two ways. Historically and neutrally, scholars describe ancient Israel, or the Papal States, or Tibet under the Dalai Lamas, as theocracies — it is simply a name for a type of state. But in newspapers today it is very often a criticism. To call a government 'a theocracy' or 'sliding towards theocracy' is usually to say it is imposing one religion's rules on everyone, including people who do not share that faith. Modern Iran is the example most often given. Your students should notice that tone, because using the word about a real country is rarely a neutral act.

The opposite people usually name is a secular state — one that keeps religion and government separate. The related word for a person is 'theocrat', and the adjective is 'theocratic'. The plural is theocracies.