1. A government made up of people (priests or other clergy) who claim to represent God: The Buddhist theocracy existed in Tibet by the Dalai Lama before it was taken over by the Chinese.
2. A community governed usually by priests, according to some form of religious law: A current example of a theocracy is Vatican City where it issues its own currency and postage stamps and has its own newspaper and broadcasting facilities.
3. A priestly order or religious body exercising political or civil power: Vatican City has a government called a theocracy that is run by a lay governor and council, however all of them are responsible to the Pope who is the official administrator.