Meaning & use
oligarchy
A form of government in which power is held by a small group of people, often for their own benefit.
See it in a sentence
Critics argued that the country had become an oligarchy controlled by a handful of wealthy families.
The ancient city-state shifted from democracy to oligarchy after the coup.
A note on using this word
Oligarchy specifically implies rule by a small elite group, distinguishing it from a monarchy, which is rule by one person.
Words with a similar meaning
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