oligarchy
Americannoun
plural
oligarchies-
a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.
-
a state or organization so ruled.
-
the persons or class so ruling.
noun
-
government by a small group of people
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a state or organization so governed
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a small body of individuals ruling such a state
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a small clique of private citizens who exert a strong influence on government
Usage
What does oligarchy mean? Oligarchy is a term for a government in which power is held by a select few individuals or a small class of powerful people. This can mean that these few people are the actual leaders, or that they influence or control the decisions that the leaders make (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. It 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. One of the select few who rules or influences leaders in an oligarchy can be called an oligarch. The word oligarch is especially associated with and applied to Russian figures known for their wealth and political influence. These figures are frequently called Russian oligarchs and are sometimes referred to collectively as the Russian oligarchy. Example: The members of just three families have run the country as an oligarchy for decades, serving only their own interests.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of oligarchy
First recorded in 1570–80; from Medieval Latin oligarchia, from Greek oligarchía. See olig-, -archy
Compare meaning
How does oligarchy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
Does it ever feel like just a few people have all the power? If it's a government that's run like this, it's an oligarchy. A country that has this form of government is an oligarchy too. The political term, oligarchy, comes to English from the Greek with its meaning intact — a form of government run by a small number of people such as wealthy landowners, royalty or powerful military figures. If you say that you can't fight the oligarchy, you mean the leaders of such a place. Sometimes the word refers to the few powerful people in charge of a large company or system. A financial oligarchy might try to block reform.
Vocabulary lists containing oligarchy
Play by the Rules: Arch
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100 Words Every High School Graduate Should Know
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"On Women's Right to Vote" by Susan B. Anthony
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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.
Greg Casar, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, who spoke on the Fighting Oligarchy tour, is more hopeful.
From Slate • Apr. 9, 2025
Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have been on a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour that's garnering unprecedentedly huge crowds, even for them.
From Salon • Mar. 28, 2025
Oligarchy is particularly visible when the opportunity to use that wealth-power is fairly unconstrained.
From Slate • Nov. 15, 2024
In his new book "American Oligarchy," commentator and cultural critic Thom Hartmann offers this context:
From Salon • Aug. 31, 2021
He was already the accepted Conservative candidate, being nominated from the Oligarchy Club in response to an appeal from the local leaders.
From Name and Fame A Novel by Sergeant, Adeline
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.
