Meaning & use

monarchy

noun·Academic

A system of government in which a single ruler, such as a king or queen, holds the highest authority.

See it in a sentence

The country remains a monarchy, though the king's powers are now largely ceremonial.

Historians studied how the monarchy gradually lost power to an elected parliament.

A note on using this word

A constitutional monarchy limits the ruler's power under a constitution, unlike an absolute monarchy where the ruler holds unchecked authority.

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