oligarchy

noun

ol·i·gar·chy ˈä-lə-ˌgär-kē How to pronounce oligarchy (audio)

ˈō-

plural oligarchies

: government by the few

The corporation is ruled by oligarchy.

: a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes

a military oligarchy was established in the country

also : a group exercising such control

An oligarchy ruled the nation.

: an organization under oligarchic control

That country is an oligarchy.

Did you know?

Oligarchy and Other Words for Rulers

Oligarchy is one of numerous English words for a type of rule or government. Some of these words, such as plutocracy, have an exceedingly similar meaning (both may be used to refer to rule by an economic elite, but oligarchy often has the additional connotation of corruption). Besides these two, we have meritocracy “a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement,” monarchy “a form of government in which a country is ruled by a king or queen,” ochlocracy “government by the mob," and gerontocracy “rule by elders,” among many others.

Example Sentences

Their nation is an oligarchy. An oligarchy rules their nation. The corporation is ruled by oligarchy.

Recent Examples on the Web But by 2018, even the English were growing uneasy about the oligarchy.

Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 24 Aug. 2022 As a result, the U.S. is currently more an oligarchy than a democracy.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2022 Unlike the evil oligarchy of ancient Athens, the A.I. oligopoly set out to do good.

Wendell Wallach, Fortune, 16 June 2022 Suffice it to say that the overwhelmingly white professional-class women who don these costumes don’t inhabit a country on the verge of becoming a theocracy or even a patriarchy, but an oligarchy—the harms of which they’ll be relatively spared from.

Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 5 May 2022 After the United States overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, white settlers formed an oligarchy of sugar production companies, known as The Big Five, that controlled the Hawaiian islands in the first half of the 20th century.

Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2022 Owning a superyacht, the ultimate status symbol, is practically a prerequisite for joining Russia’s oligarchy.

Jaclyn Trop, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2022 Page acknowledges that American oligarchy is different — it is embedded in the political system.

New York Times, 6 Apr. 2022 Yet the Cardinals are the team in this year’s quartet of powerhouses that has generally been the most overlooked, a reminder of the oligarchy still lingering in a sport seeing more parity every season.

Tim Bielik, cleveland, 1 Apr. 2022 See More

单词	oligarchy
释义	oligarchy noun ol·i·gar·chy ˈä-lə-ˌgär-kē ˈō- plural oligarchies 1 : government by the few The corporation is ruled by oligarchy. 2 : a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes a military oligarchy was established in the country also : a group exercising such control An oligarchy ruled the nation. 3 : an organization under oligarchic control That country is an oligarchy. Did you know? Oligarchy and Other Words for Rulers Oligarchy is one of numerous English words for a type of rule or government. Some of these words, such as plutocracy, have an exceedingly similar meaning (both may be used to refer to rule by an economic elite, but oligarchy often has the additional connotation of corruption). Besides these two, we have meritocracy “a system in which the talented are chosen and moved ahead on the basis of their achievement,” monarchy “a form of government in which a country is ruled by a king or queen,” ochlocracy “government by the mob," and gerontocracy “rule by elders,” among many others. Example Sentences Their nation is an oligarchy. An oligarchy rules their nation. The corporation is ruled by oligarchy. Recent Examples on the Web But by 2018, even the English were growing uneasy about the oligarchy. Geoffrey Wheatcroft, The New Republic, 24 Aug. 2022 As a result, the U.S. is currently more an oligarchy than a democracy. San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2022 Unlike the evil oligarchy of ancient Athens, the A.I. oligopoly set out to do good. Wendell Wallach, Fortune, 16 June 2022 Suffice it to say that the overwhelmingly white professional-class women who don these costumes don’t inhabit a country on the verge of becoming a theocracy or even a patriarchy, but an oligarchy—the harms of which they’ll be relatively spared from. Natalie Shure, The New Republic, 5 May 2022 After the United States overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893, white settlers formed an oligarchy of sugar production companies, known as The Big Five, that controlled the Hawaiian islands in the first half of the 20th century. Priscilla Totiyapungprasert, The Arizona Republic, 29 Apr. 2022 Owning a superyacht, the ultimate status symbol, is practically a prerequisite for joining Russia’s oligarchy. Jaclyn Trop, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2022 Page acknowledges that American oligarchy is different — it is embedded in the political system. New York Times, 6 Apr. 2022 Yet the Cardinals are the team in this year’s quartet of powerhouses that has generally been the most overlooked, a reminder of the oligarchy still lingering in a sport seeing more parity every season. Tim Bielik, cleveland, 1 Apr. 2022 See More Word History Etymology borrowed from Middle French, Late Latin & Greek; Middle French oligarchie, borrowed from Late Latin oligarchia, borrowed from Greek oligarchía, from olig- olig- + -archia -archy First Known Use 1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1 oligarchy noun 1 as in clique a small group of people who exercise control over a country, business, etc. Critics complain that the government is now dominated by an oligarchy of wealthy businesspeople. Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance clique junta syndicate network coterie mob cabal clan team coven crowd club conspiracy circle gang galère Mafia set bunch crew pack ring lot 2 as in empire government that is controlled by a small group of people The nation was an oligarchy with election results manipulated to maintain a permanent ruling class. Synonyms & Similar Words empire dictatorship monarchy republic triumvirate monocracy theocracy sovereign dyarchy diarchy kingdom dominion microstate nation-state triarchy ministate principality domain sovran duumvirate colony dependency duchy city-state sultanate realm province dukedom superpower settlement emirate mandate seigniory fatherland soil trust territory homeland condominium commonwealth seignory sea power client state motherland state great power world power nation power welfare state sovereignty country land sovranty
随便看	bullishlier bullishliest bullishly bullishness bullishnesses bullmastiff bullmastiffs bullnecked bullnecks bullnose pepper bullnose tool bullnoses bullnut bullock bullock block bullock heart bullock's lungwort Bullock's oriole bullock's-heart bullockier bullockiest bullocking Bullockite bullocks bullocky

oligarchy

noun

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

noun