English Explanatory Dictionary

monarchy

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A government in which sovereignty is embodied within a single, today usually hereditary head of state (whether as a figurehead or as a powerful ruler).
  2. The territory ruled over by a monarch; a kingdom.
  3. A form of government where sovereignty is embodied by a single ruler in a state and his high aristocracy representing their separate divided lands within the state and their low aristocracy representing their separate divided fiefs.
  4. States based on a system of governance headed by a king or a queen.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɒnəki/ /ˈmɑnɚki/ /ˈmɑˌnɑɹki/ en-us-monarchy.ogg /mɔ.nɑ(r).kʰi/ /ˈmɔnə(r)kʰi/ /mɵˈnɑ(r)kʰi/

Word forms

monarchy monarchies monarchie

Etymology

From Old French monarchie, from Late Latin monarchia, from Ancient Greek μοναρχία (monarkhía), from μόνος (mónos, “only”) + ἀρχή (arkhḗ, “power, authority”). By surface analysis, mon- (“one, single”) + -archy (“rule, command”).

Synonyms

kingdom government

Related words

monarch monarchic

Derived words

absolute monarchy antimonarchy aristomonarchy bicycle monarchy bicycling monarchy composite monarchy constitutional monarchy limited monarchy mixed monarchy nonmonarchy parliamentary monarchy
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