oligarchic
Americanadjective
Usage
What does oligarchic mean? Oligarchic is used to describe things that involve an oligarchy—a government or system in which power is held by a select few individuals or a small class of powerful people. Such people can be called oligarchs. Oligarchic is typically used to describe systems that resemble or function as oligarchies or the actions of people considered oligarchs. In an oligarchy, the oligarchs may be the actual leaders, or they may influence or control the decisions that the leaders make (meaning that they’re the ones “pulling the strings” behind the scenes). Oligarchy is never used as an official term for a form of government (like monarchy is, for example)—it’s almost always applied as a criticism of such situations. Describing something as oligarchic is frequently used as a way of pointing out the influence of the wealthy and powerful in politics and government—an influence that’s typically used to benefit themselves. A country that is thought to have an oligarchic government can also be referred to as an oligarchy, as in Many outsiders view the nation as an oppressive oligarchy. Oligarchy can also refer to the class of people who have the power in this kind of system, as in The country was run by an oligarchy consisting of a few powerful industrialists. Example: Average citizens are angry because the oligarchic system is rigged to benefit the rich and powerful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of oligarchic
1640–50; < Greek oligarchikós, equivalent to oligarch ( ía ) oligarchy + -ikos -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The Oligarchic Man": "When the people are deliberating whom they shall associate with the archon as joint directors of the procession."
From The Cavalry General by Dakyns, Henry Graham
Cicero in his Letters makes the most dramatic moment in Roman history, the end of the Oligarchic Republic, live before one.
From The Adventure of Living : a Subjective Autobiography by Strachey, John St. Loe
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
