'totalitarianism' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'totalitario,' where 'total' meant 'complete' and '-itario' was a suffix indicating a system or condition.

'totalitario' transformed into the English word 'totalitarianism' in the early 20th century, reflecting the rise of regimes with total control over society.

Initially, it meant 'complete control by the state,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.