polyarchy

American

[pol-ee-ahr-kee] / ˈpɒl iˌɑr ki /

noun

PLURAL

polyarchies

a form of government in which power is vested in three or more persons.

polyarchy British

/ ˈpɒlɪˌɑːkɪ /

noun

a political system in which power is dispersed

"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

Other Word Forms

polyarchic adjective
polyarchical adjective

Etymology

Origin of polyarchy

First recorded in 1600–10; poly- + -archy

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.

There is but one normal state-form; monarchy and polyarchy are mere differences in administrative forms.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023