power structure

American  

noun

1. the system of authority or influence in government, politics, education, etc..

   The state elections threatened to upset the existing power structure.

2. the people who participate in such a system.

   She hoped to become a part of the power structure.

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power structure British  

noun

1. the structure or distribution of power and authority in a community

2. the people and groups who are part of such a structure

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Etymology

Origin of power structure

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

More practically, Ghalibaf is only one of the few Iranian leaders at the center of the power structure that is still alive.

From The Wall Street Journal

Wise heads point to a moment when Labour's power structures could change further down the track.

From BBC

In the early 1920s, Tojo joined other young officers to break the army’s old-school power structure.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We've had to adapt our data centres' designs to accommodate different power structures and different cooling mechanisms."

From Barron's

Writers, actors, directors, and studio execs harbor animosity for Netflix, which disrupted their business models and shook up the power structure of the industry incumbents.

From Barron's

Related Words

• hierarchy
• ruling class