plutocratic

American  

[ploo-tuh-krat-ik] / ˌplu təˈkræt ɪk /

Often plutocratical

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characterized by a plutocracy or plutocrats.

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Usage

What does plutocratic mean? Plutocratic is used to describe things that involve a plutocracy—a government in which wealthy people use their wealth to rule.Such people can be called plutocrats. Plutocratic is typically used to describe systems that resemble or function as plutocracies or the actions of people considered plutocrats.In a plutocracy, the plutocrats may be the actual leaders, or they may influence or control the decisions that the leaders make. Plutocracy is never used as an official term for a form of government (like democracy is, for example)—it’s almost always applied as a criticism of such situations. Describing something as plutocratic is a way of pointing out inequality and the powerful influence of the wealthy in politics and government.A country that is thought to have a plutocratic government can also be referred to as a plutocracy, as in Many outsiders saw the nation as an oppressive plutocracy.Plutocracy can also refer to the power that this kind of wealth can allow, as in His latest column explains his belief that the government has been corrupted by plutocracy. It can also refer to the wealthy class that is using wealth to rule, as in The businessman was accused of being a member of the plutocracy. Example: Average citizens are angry because they believe billionaires have created a plutocratic system to benefit themselves and their fellow plutocrats.

Other Word Forms

• nonplutocratic adjective
• nonplutocratical adjective
• plutocratically adverb
• unplutocratic adjective
• unplutocratical adjective

Etymology

Origin of plutocratic

First recorded in 1865–70; plutocrat + -ic

Example Sentences

One virtue of the California proposal is that, even if it fails to get enacted or even to reach the ballot, it may trigger more discussion of options for taxing plutocratic fortunes.

From Los Angeles Times

“What you have in this ticket is a weird amalgam of plutocratic populism,” Kabaservice said.

From Los Angeles Times

You describe four main kinds of elites — military, ideological, administrative and plutocratic — any of which may predominate in a given polity and even persist across cycles.

From Salon

But it isn’t a simple story of plutocratic rule.

From Seattle Times

Indeed, Russia’s plutocratic class might be particularly vulnerable to this approach.

From Washington Post