Oligarchy — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈä-lə-ˌgär-kē/ ol·i·gar·chy

Meaning & Definition of Oligarchy

Oligarchy (noun)

  1. government by the few
  2. a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes; also, a group exercising such control
  3. a group or organization that is controlled by a privileged few

Oligarchy (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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."

    similar: junta, bunch, circle, clan, clique, club, coterie, coven, crowd, galère, lot, network, pack, set, team, cabal, conspiracy, crew, gang, Mafia, mob, ring, syndicate

  2. 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."

    similar: dyarchy, duumvirate, triarchy, triumvirate, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, sovereign, theocracy, city-state, microstate, ministate, nation-state, domain, dominion, empire, kingdom, realm, republic, duchy, dukedom, emirate, principality, seigniory, sultanate, client state, colony, condominium, dependency, mandate, province, settlement, soil, trust territory, fatherland, homeland, motherland, great power, power, sea power, superpower, world power, welfare state, commonwealth, country, land, nation, sovereignty, state

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Oligarchy

The most common words with a similar meaning to Oligarchy:

junta, bunch, circle, clan, clique, club, coterie, coven, crowd, galère, lot, network, pack, set, team, cabal, conspiracy, crew, gang, Mafia, mob, ring, syndicate, dyarchy, duumvirate, triarchy, triumvirate, dictatorship, monarchy, monocracy, sovereign, theocracy, city-state, microstate, ministate, nation-state, domain, dominion, empire, kingdom

Word Forms of Oligarchy

Inflections: oligarchies

Origin & Etymology of Oligarchy

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

Frequently Asked Questions about Oligarchy

What does "Oligarchy" mean?

"Oligarchy" means government by the few. As a noun, it is defined as: government by the few. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Oligarchy"?

Other words for "Oligarchy" include junta, bunch, circle, clan, clique, club, coterie and coven. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Oligarchy" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Oligarchy"?

There are 72 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Oligarchy". Common alternatives include junta, bunch, circle, clan, clique, club, coterie, coven, crowd and galère.

How do you use "Oligarchy" in a sentence?

Examples of "Oligarchy" in a sentence: "Critics complain that the government is now dominated by an oligarchy of wealthy businesspeople."; "The nation was an oligarchy with election results manipulated to maintain a permanent ruling class.".

Is "Oligarchy" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Oligarchy" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Oligarchy"?

"Oligarchy" is pronounced /ˈä-lə-ˌgär-kē/ and divided into syllables as ol·i·gar·chy.

What is the origin of the word "Oligarchy"?

"Oligarchy" comes from 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.

What is another word for "Oligarchy" meaning "a small group of people who exercise control over a country, business, etc."?

When "Oligarchy" (noun) means a small group of people who exercise control over a country, business, etc., synonyms include junta, bunch, circle, clan, clique and club.