oligarchy
UK[ˈɒl.ɪ.ɡɑː.ki]US[ˈɑː.lə.ɡɑːr.ki]
n
A form of government in which a small group of people holds all the power.
n
The group of people who hold power in such a system.
n
A country or organization governed by such a small group.
Morpheme Breakdown
olig
archy
olig
few
archy
rule
Etymology
The term "oligarchy" is a direct borrowing from Medieval Latin oligarchia, which itself originates from Greek oligarkhia, meaning "government by the few." It is a compound of oligos ("few") and arkhē ("rule, command"). This precise Greek construction was adopted into English in the late 16th century to describe a political concept in opposition to monarchy (rule by one) and democracy (rule by the people). The word's logic is transparently literal, maintaining its original sense of power concentrated in the hands of a small, often privileged, faction.
Analysis
Structure: olig (few) + archy (rule)
- olig: From Greek oligos, meaning "few, small, little." It functions as a combining form indicating scarcity or a small number.
- archy: From Greek -arkhia, from arkhē, meaning "rule, government." It functions as a noun-forming suffix denoting a specific type of rule or leadership.
Examples
The country moved from a democracy to a corrupt oligarchy.
Critics accused the corporation of being an oligarchy controlled by a few wealthy families.
Ancient Sparta is often cited as a classic example of an oligarchy.