pentarchy

[ pen-tahr-kee ]

noun,plural pen·tar·chies.

a government by five persons.
a governing body of five persons.

a federation of five nations, each under its own government or ruler.

Origin of pentarchy

From the Greek word pentarchía, dating back to 1580–90; see origin at pent-, -archy

Other words from pentarchy

pentarch, noun
pen·tar·chi·cal, adjective

Words Nearby pentarchy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use pentarchy in a sentence

In 1846 Russia was the first power of Europe, and at a great distance ahead of all other members of the pentarchy.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 18, No. 109, November, 1866 | Various
But, as in the Saxon times this country was an heptarchy, it is now a strange sort of pentarchy.
The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. II. (of 12) | Edmund Burke

British Dictionary definitions for pentarchy

pentarchy

/ (ˈpɛntɑːkɪ) /

nounplural -chies

government by five rulers
a ruling body of five

a union or association of five kingdoms, provinces, etc, each under its own ruler
a country ruled by a body of five

Derived forms of pentarchy

pentarchical, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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