monarchy

American  

[mon-er-kee] / ˈmɒn ər ki /

noun

monarchies plural

1. a state or nation in which the supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in a monarch.

2. supreme power or sovereignty held by a single person.

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monarchy British  

/ ˈmɒnəkɪ /

noun

1. a form of government in which supreme authority is vested in a single and usually hereditary figure, such as a king, and whose powers can vary from those of an absolute despot to those of a figurehead

2. a country reigned over by a king, prince, or other monarch

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monarchy Cultural  

1. A system of government in which one person reigns, usually a king or queen. The authority, or crown, in a monarchy is generally inherited. The ruler, or monarch, is often only the head of state, not the head of government. Many monarchies, such as Britain and Denmark, are actually governed by parliaments. (See absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy.)

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Usage

What is a monarchy? A monarchy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held by one person, either officially or ceremonially. In a monarchy, one person rules the government, and no human is above them in power. The ruler of a monarchy is called a monarch, and their position is nearly always hereditary, meaning that a member of their family will inherit their position when they die or willingly give up their power (known as abdicitation). Throughout history, monarchies have been a relatively common form of government. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs, the Roman and Chinese emperors, and the large number of European kings and queens ruled over monarchies. There are two major types of monarchies:

• In an absolute monarchy, the supreme ruler has total, unlimited power. Nobody can tell them what to do, and they can order their people to do anything they want. This form of monarchy was more common in the past than it is today. Some examples of modern countries with this form of monarchy are Swaziland and Saudi Arabia.
• In a limited monarchy or constitutional monarchy, the supreme ruler has limits on what they are actually able to do. Usually, their power is determined by a written constitution or a governing body that can restrain the actions they want to do. Of the monarchies that still exist today, most of them are limited monarchies, including those found in the United Kingdom and Norway.

Synonym Usage

See kingdom.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• antimonarchy
  adjective
• promonarchy
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• monarchies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of monarchy

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English monarchie, from Late Latin monarchia, from Greek monarchía. See monarch, -y ³

Compare meaning

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

• oligarchy vs. monarchy
• autocracy vs. monarchy

Explanation

A monarchy is a country that is ruled by a monarch, and monarchy is this system or form of government. A monarch, such as a king or queen, rules a kingdom or empire. In a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's power is limited by a constitution. But in an absolute monarchy, the monarch has unlimited power. Monarchy is an old form of government, and the word has been around a long time. It derives from Greek monarkhiā, from monarkhos, "monarch."

Example Sentences

The generally pro-monarchy newspaper said that while the royal family was undoubtedly a valuable tool of British soft power, “the monarchy cannot be immune from the strictures applying to other areas of government spending.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

This annual public payment for the running costs of the monarchy is based on a percentage of the Crown Estate's profits.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026

Funding for the British monarchy from taxpayers is set to reach some 100 million pounds next year, nearly double the 2024 figure, according to the annual report into the monarchy’s finances released Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

Ramón Valle-Inclán wrote his 1920 critique of Spain’s monarchy in play form, fueled by fried dough, “cacao… bread of the gods,” and long nights below Chocolatería San Ginés.

From Salon • Jun. 23, 2026

Their mission was to strike a blow against Austria and the Hapsburg monarchy by assassinating Archduke Franz Ferdinand.

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• sovereignty
• throne