Advertisement

Advertisement

plutocracy

[ ploo-tok-ruh-see ]

noun

, plural plu·toc·ra·cies.
  1. the rule or power of wealth or of the wealthy.
  2. a government or state in which the wealthy class rules.
  3. a class or group ruling, or exercising power or influence, by virtue of its wealth.


plutocracy

/ ˌpluːtəˈkrætɪk; pluːˈtɒkrəsɪ /

noun

  1. the rule or control of society by the wealthy
  2. a state or government characterized by the rule of the wealthy
  3. a class that exercises power by virtue of its wealth


plutocracy

  1. Government by the rich. The term is usually one of reproach.


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • plutocratic, adjective
  • ˌplutoˈcratically, adverb

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of plutocracy1

1645–55; < Greek ploutokratía, equivalent to ploûto ( s ) wealth + -kratia -cracy

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of plutocracy1

C17: from Greek ploutokratia government by the rich, from ploutos wealth + -kratia rule, power

Discover More

Example Sentences

In the large cities the urbanized working class were slaves to a plutocracy.

American politics has ceased to function as a rising democracy and come to resemble an emerging plutocracy.

Instead, at this pace Smith brings the reader right around to the conflicts of Soviet old, but mutated thanks to added plutocracy.

The apologists for plutocracy are content this week to use anti-racism as their debating tool.

(p. 76) In the realm of politics, however, plutocracy can buy itself more substantial rewards.

Thus the descendants of the feudal aristocracy were pushed aside by the modern plutocracy.

Because the danger of plutocracy forced itself on the people.

The American plutocracy has developed upon a superstructure of Puritanism, and therefore, in America, hypocrisy is necessary.

She wants to make me the stepping-stone to social success; she sighs for the purple penetralia of the plutocracy.

Have we not seen the democratic form of government lend itself to ill-concealed plutocracy in Europe and America?

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Plutoplutocrat