absolute monarchy

American  

[ab-suh-loot mon-er-kee] / ˈæb səˌlut ˈmɒn ər ki /

noun

1. a monarchy that is not limited or restrained by laws or a constitution.

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absolute monarchy British  

noun

1. a monarchy without constitutional limits Compare constitutional monarchy

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absolute monarchy Cultural  

1. Rule by one person — a monarch, usually a king or a queen — whose actions are restricted neither by written law nor by custom; a system different from a constitutional monarchy and from a republic. Absolute monarchy persisted in France until 1789 and in Russia until 1917.

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Other Word Forms

• absolute monarch
  noun

Compare meaning

How does absolute-monarchy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• absolute monarchy vs. constitutional monarchy

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

absolute monarchy

Eswatini, Africa's last absolute monarchy, confirmed last year it had received around $5.1 million from the United States to accept 160 deportees.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

Thapa was drawn into politics as a teenager in the 1980s, when leftist and communist parties led a popular movement against absolute monarchy, giving rise to multi-party democracy since 1990.

From Barron's ● Feb. 27, 2026

Eswatini, the last absolute monarchy in Africa, has not commented on the arrival of the flight.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2025

The Vatican is the lone absolute monarchy left in Europe, with Francis wielding supreme legislative, executive and judicial power.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 18, 2023

The Queen Mother had no objection on principle to absolute monarchy: she had always favoured it.

From Louis XIV and La Grande Mademoiselle 1652-1693 by Arvede Barine