exclusive control of the market supply of a product or service
2.
a. an enterprise exercising this control
b. the product or service so controlled
3.
law the exclusive right or privilege granted to a person, company, etc, by the state to purchase, manufacture, use, or sell some commodity or to carry on trade in a specified country or area
4.
exclusive control, possession, or use of something
[C16: from Late Latin, from Greek monopōlion, from mono- + pōlein to sell]