constitutional monarchy

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A system of government in which a king or queen is the official head of state but real political power belongs to an elected parliament and a constitution.

   Grammar: Countable; use 'a' or 'the' for one example, and 'monarchies' for more than one.

   Patterns

   • a constitutional monarchy
   • the constitutional monarchy of [country]
   • become a constitutional monarchy

   Japan is a constitutional monarchy, with an emperor who performs ceremonial duties but does not govern.

   The country changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy after the revolution.

   In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's powers are limited by law and tradition.

2. 2nouncountable

   A country that has this system of government.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural to talk about several such countries.

   Patterns

   • a constitutional monarchy
   • many constitutional monarchies
   • the world's constitutional monarchies

   Britain, Spain, and Sweden are all constitutional monarchies.

   Some constitutional monarchies have very small royal families with little public role.

   She wrote her thesis on the constitutions of European constitutional monarchies.

Word forms

Common combinations

a constitutional monarchy

Canada is a constitutional monarchy with the British monarch as its formal head of state.

establish a constitutional monarchy

The reformers wanted to establish a constitutional monarchy rather than a republic.

under a constitutional monarchy

Under a constitutional monarchy, the prime minister holds most of the power.

absolute monarchy

Unlike an absolute monarchy, a constitutional monarchy gives the monarch only ceremonial roles.

a constitutional monarch

The queen became a constitutional monarch when the new constitution was signed.

Synonyms and how they differ

limited monarchy

A less common term with the same meaning; it emphasizes that the monarch's powers are restricted.

parliamentary monarchy

Focuses on the role of parliament; it is not a perfect synonym because some constitutional monarchies have weak parliaments.

Opposites

Word family

constitutional adjective

Relating to a constitution or to the basic laws of a country.

monarch noun

A king, queen, or other royal ruler.

monarchical adjective

Relating to a monarch or monarchy.

monarchist noun

A person who supports having a monarchy.

Commonly confused: constitutional monarchy or absolute monarchy?

Practice

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