# oligarchy

/ˈɑɫəˌɡɑɹki/ (US) · /ˈɒlɪɡˌɑːki/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/oligarchy
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a system of government where a small group of people, like a few rich families or powerful leaders, has all the power.

For teachers: a form of government in which power is held by a small, self-appointed elite. Often used to describe a political system where a few individuals or families dominate the state's affairs.

## Examples

- The country was ruled by a powerful oligarchy for decades.
- Historians often debate whether the ancient city was a true democracy or a hidden oligarchy controlled by a few wealthy families.
- The transition from a monarchy to an oligarchy occurred when the king's power was systematically stripped by a coalition of influential merchants and landowners.

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