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monopolies

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Monopolies
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mo⋅nop⋅o⋅ly

  [muh-nop-uh-lee]
Use monopolies in a Sentence
–noun, plural -lies.
1. exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market, or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices. Compare duopoly, oligopoly.
2. an exclusive privilege to carry on a business, traffic, or service, granted by a government.
3. the exclusive possession or control of something.
4. something that is the subject of such control, as a commodity or service.
5. a company or group that has such control.
6. the market condition that exists when there is only one seller.
7. (initial capital letter) a board game in which a player attempts to gain a monopoly of real estate by advancing around the board and purchasing property, acquiring capital by collecting rent from other players whose pieces land on that property.
Origin:
1525–35; < L monopōlium < Gk monoplion right of exclusive sale, equiv. to mono- mono- + pōl(eîn) to sell + -ion n. suffix

Related forms:
mo⋅nop⋅o⋅loid, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Monopolies
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mo·nop·o·ly   (mə-nŏp'ə-lē)   
n.   pl. mo·nop·o·lies

  1. Exclusive control by one group of the means of producing or selling a commodity or service: "Monopoly frequently ... arises from government support or from collusive agreements among individuals" (Milton Friedman).

  2. Law A right granted by a government giving exclusive control over a specified commercial activity to a single party.

    1. A company or group having exclusive control over a commercial activity.

    2. A commodity or service so controlled.

    3. Exclusive possession or control: arrogantly claims to have a monopoly on the truth.

    4. Something that is exclusively possessed or controlled: showed that scientific achievement is not a male monopoly.

    1. Exclusive possession or control: arrogantly claims to have a monopoly on the truth.

    2. Something that is exclusively possessed or controlled: showed that scientific achievement is not a male monopoly.


[Latin monopōlium, from Greek monopōlion : mono-, mono- + pōlein, to sell; see pel-4 in Indo-European roots.]
mo·nop'o·lism n., mo·nop'o·list n., mo·nop'o·lis'tic adj., mo·nop'o·lis'ti·cal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

monopoly

The exclusive control by one company of a service or product.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

monopoly 
"exclusive control of a commodity or trade," 1534, from L. monopolium, from Gk. monopolion "right of exclusive sale," from mono- (q.v.) + polein "to sell," from PIE base *pel- "to sell, purchase, barter, gain" (cf. Skt. panate "barters, purchases," Lith. pelnas "gain," O.C.S. splenu, Rus. polon "prey, booty," O.N. falr, Du. veil, Ger. feil "for sale, venal"). The popular board game, invented by Charles Darrow, is from 1935. Monopoly money "unreal currency" is attested from 1972, in ref. to the game. Monopolize first recorded 1611; monopolistic is from 1883.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

monopoly

Of, relating to, or being a market in which there is a single seller of a particular good or service. For example, electric utilities nearly always operate in monopoly markets. Compare monopsony.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: mo·nop·o·ly
Pronunciation: m&-'nä-p&-lE
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -lies
1 : exclusive control of a particular market that is marked by the power to control prices and exclude competition and that esp. is developed willfully rather than as the result of superior products or skill —see also ANTITRUST Sherman Antitrust Act in the IMPORTANT LAWS section
2 : one that has a monopoly
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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