Word
monarchy
Phoneticsmonar·chy
US/ˈmɑnɑɹki/
UK/mˈɒnəki/
Definitions
01system of government
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a system where a country is ruled by a king or queen, often for their whole life.
n. a form of government in which sovereignty is embodied in a single individual, typically a hereditary head of state.
“Many people still support the monarchy because of its long history and tradition.”
“The transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one required significant legal reforms to limit the sovereign's power.”
Synonyms
02the royal family
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the king or queen and their family as a group.
n. the monarch and the royal family collectively as a social or political institution.
“The monarchy remains a very popular symbol of national identity in the UK.”
“Public opinion regarding the monarchy often fluctuates depending on the conduct of individual members of the royal family.”
Synonyms
03a kingdom
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal · Literary
n. a country that is ruled by a monarch.
n. the territorial realm or state over which a monarch exercises authority.
“The ancient monarchy stretched across several modern-day borders.”
“Historians have mapped the expansion of the monarchy during the twelfth century, noting the strategic importance of its coastal territories.”
Real-World Examples
“Portugal and Spain were then ruled by the same monarchy from 1580 to 1640.” “The Iranian government has since then announced a large number of arrests of people it says are supporters of the monarchy.” Etymology
From Old French monarchie, from Late Latin monarchia, from Ancient Greek μοναρχία (monarkhía), from μόνος (mónos, “only”) + ἀρχή (arkhḗ, “power, authority”). By surface analysis, mon- (“one, single”) + -archy (“rule, command”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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