Government by the army; military rule. Also: a state controlled or dominated by its army.

A group that uses its power and influence to support, defend, or appoint a leader or uphold an established system, esp. in politics. Cf. praetorian…

Any organization in which power and authority is confined to a small group; the controlling faction in such an organization.

A set of ruling persons comparable to vampires.

concrete. A body of ruling priests or ecclesiastics: = hierarchy, n. 3.

The system of government by old men. Also, a governing body consisting of old men.

Government or rule by Whigs or the Whig Party; a ruling elite of Whigs. Cf. Whigarchy, n.

Esp. in the Caribbean: the dominant or controlling class of plantation owners, or planters. Usually with the.

Government by the mediocre; a system within which mediocrity is rewarded.

The class of squatters as a body possessed of social and political importance.

The class of snobs, as having some power or exerting some influence.

A system of government by pedants; the rule of pedants. Also: a governing body of pedants.

An elite or ruling class of fools.

Government by thugs; a society in which thugs hold power or a nation ruled by this kind of government. Also: a ruling body or order of thugs.

A system of social or class distinction based on skin colour; a society based on such a system; the dominant group in such a society.

a ruling body of foreigners.