oligarchy
Use Oligarchy in a sentence
ɪˌgɑr noun, plural ol·i·gar·chies.
1.
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.
2.
a state or organization so ruled.
3.
the persons or class so ruling.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To oligarchy
Collins
World English Dictionary
oligarchy (ˈɒlɪˌɡɑːkɪ) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n , pl -chies | |
| 1. | government by a small group of people |
| 2. | a state or organization so governed |
| 3. | a small body of individuals ruling such a state |
| 4. | chiefly (US) a small clique of private citizens who exert a strong influence on government |
| [C16: via Medieval Latin from Greek oligarkhia, from olígos few + | |
| oli'garchic | |
| —adj | |
| oli'garchical | |
| —adj | |
| oli'garchically | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
00:10
Oligarchy
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
oligarchy
1570s, from M.Fr. oligarchie (14c.), from Gk. oligarkhia "government by the few," from oligoi "few, small, little" (of unknown origin) + arkhein "to rule" (see archon).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
oligarchy [(ol-uh-gahr-kee, oh-luh-gahr-kee)]A system of government in which power is held by a small group.
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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Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
The interesting question is whether or not it is even possible for a democracy not to evolve into an oligarchy.
It's oligarchy and history has shown us that the current state of affairs is not sustainable in the long-run.
The people surrender their sovereign power to an oligarchy who are elected and whose opportunity to wield power is time limited.
Political power was in the hands of the oligarchy, democracy was a farce.
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