oligarchy

[ ol-i-gahr-kee ]
/ ˈɒl ɪˌgɑr ki /

noun, plural ol·i·gar·chies.

a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.
a state or organization so ruled.
the persons or class so ruling.

Origin of oligarchy

1570–80; < Medieval Latin oligarchia < Greek oligarchía. See olig-, -archy

Words nearby oligarchy

Example sentences from the Web for oligarchy

British Dictionary definitions for oligarchy

oligarchy
/ (ˈɒlɪˌɡɑːkɪ) /

noun plural -chies

government by a small group of people
a state or organization so governed
a small body of individuals ruling such a state
mainly US a small clique of private citizens who exert a strong influence on government

Derived forms of oligarchy

oligarchic or oligarchical, adjective oligarchically, adverb

Word Origin for oligarchy

C16: via Medieval Latin from Greek oligarkhia, from olígos few + -archy

Cultural definitions for oligarchy

oligarchy
[ (ol-uh-gahr-kee, oh-luh-gahr-kee) ]

A system of government in which power is held by a small group.