oligarch
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does oligarch mean? An oligarch is one of the select few people who rule or influence leaders in an oligarchy—a government in which power is held by a select few individuals or a small class of powerful people.Oligarchs can be the actual leaders, or they can influence or control the decisions that the leaders make (meaning 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. Oligarch is used in the same way.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.The word oligarch can refer to a person who’s a part of an oligarchy in any of the senses of the word.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: Oligarchs from just three powerful families have run the country for decades, serving only their own interests.
Etymology
Origin of oligarch
First recorded in 1600–10; from Greek oligárchēs; olig-, + -arch ( def. )
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.
Oleg Deripaska, a loyal Putin oligarch, recently posted a link to a Russian newspaper editorial that was unusually critical of the government’s failure to cultivate a healthy investment climate.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026
Weeks after the last of these payments was made, the oligarch bought Sunninghill Park in Berkshire from the then prince for £15m - with the help of funds from Enviro Pacific.
From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026
The BBC has also learned that, in another case, an Italian businessman pleaded guilty to bribing the oligarch.
From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026
But his shares have been frozen, depriving the oligarch of dividends and influence in the company.
From Barron's • Dec. 18, 2025
The alarmed hotel manager, a woman in high heels, came running through the lobby, pursuing the oligarch.
From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French
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.
