monarch

[mon-erk, -ahrk]

noun

1. a hereditary sovereign, as a king, queen, or emperor.

2. a sole and absolute ruler of a state or nation.

3. a person or thing that holds a dominant position.

   a monarch of international shipping.

4. monarch butterfly.

monarch

/ ˈmɒnək, mɒˈnɑːkəl, mɒˈnɑːkɪəl /

noun

1. a sovereign head of state, esp a king, queen, or emperor, who rules usually by hereditary right

2. a supremely powerful or pre-eminent person or thing

3. Also called: milkweed. a large migratory butterfly, Danaus plexippus, that has orange-and-black wings and feeds on the milkweed plant: family Danaidae

Other Word Forms

• antimonarch adjective
• monarchical adjective
• monarchist noun
• monarchally adverb
• monarchistic adjective
• monarchism noun
• monarchically adverb
• monarchal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of monarch¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French monarche, monarch, from Late Latin monarcha, from Greek mónarchos “sole ruler, monarch”; mon-, -arch

Word History and Origins

Origin of monarch¹

C15: from Late Latin monarcha, from Greek; see _mono- , _-arch

Example Sentences

The new monarch’s name was Henry VIII, and he was the latest in a line of kings and queens from the House of Tudor who ruled England from 1485 to 1603.

Read more on Literature

Saudi Arabia’s brash young man in a hurry is poised to become a mature monarch on a mission.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Although this is only the third year of his reign, Charles at the age of 77 is now in fifth place in the longest-lived British monarchs.

Read more on BBC

In my mind, stovetop will always be the monarch of methods — warmth adds its own kind of tenderness — but for weekday ease, my secret weapon is the rice cooker.

Read more on Salon

His extradition comes ahead of a landmark visit by Thailand's king to Beijing - the first state visit to China by a reigning Thai monarch and a sign of deepening ties.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• emperor 
• king 
• queen 
• sovereign