What does "monarchy" mean?

1. (system of government) a system where a country is ruled by a king or queen, often for their whole life. 2. (the royal family) the king or queen and their family as a group. 3. (a kingdom) a country that is ruled by a monarch.

monarchy

US //ˈmɑnɑɹki// UK //mˈɒnəki// monar·chy

1 system of government (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a system where a country is ruled by a king or queen, often for their whole life.

a form of government in which sovereignty is embodied in a single individual, typically a hereditary head of state.

Example

Many people still support the monarchy because of its long history and tradition.

Example

The transition from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional one required significant legal reforms to limit the sovereign's power.
- kingship
- sovereignty
- republic
- democracy
2 the royal family (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the king or queen and their family as a group.

the monarch and the royal family collectively as a social or political institution.

Example

The monarchy remains a very popular symbol of national identity in the UK.

Example

Public opinion regarding the monarchy often fluctuates depending on the conduct of individual members of the royal family.
- royalty
- the crown

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3 a kingdom (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Literary

a country that is ruled by a monarch.

the territorial realm or state over which a monarch exercises authority.

Example

The ancient monarchy stretched across several modern-day borders.

Example

Historians have mapped the expansion of the monarchy during the twelfth century, noting the strategic importance of its coastal territories.

Origin

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”).