monarch

American  

[mon-erk, -ahrk] / ˈmɒn ərk, -ɑrk /

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.

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monarch British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of monarch

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

Explanation

If you think the Queen of England is just the coolest thing ever, then you like monarchs: hereditary rulers of countries usually known as king or queen. You might think your principal rules with absolute power, but that's not really true: there's a school board and an administration and she can't really control everything. But a monarch can. Monarch comes from the Greek mono, "one," and archon, "ruler." Many modern monarchies actually have parliaments and constitutions, leaving the monarch more symbolic than powerful. A monarch is also a particularly royal looking butterfly with orange wings and black and white spots.

Example Sentences

A massive invasion force that Xerxes has led against Greece has just been destroyed; we watch as news of the disaster arrives, followed by the bedraggled monarch himself.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

The monarch walked a short stretch of red carpet and spoke to leading figures including the commissioner of police Darrin Simons and leader of the opposition Ben Smith.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

Conversations with the monarch are usually kept private.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

The U.K. government can deploy the king abroad to woo foreign governments, but convention dictates politicians cannot embarrass the monarch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

The monarch gets everything it needs from milkweed leaves.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan

Related Words

• emperor
• king
• queen
• sovereign