monarchy

noun

mon·​ar·​chy ˈmä-nər-kē How to pronounce monarchy (audio)
 also  -ˌnär-
plural monarchies
1
: undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person
Saudi Arabia is governed by a monarchy.
2
: a nation or state having a monarchical government
Britain is a monarchy.
3
: a government having a hereditary chief of state with life tenure and powers varying from nominal to absolute
The country's hereditary monarchy survived for centuries.

Examples of monarchy in a Sentence

the French monarchy of the 18th century
Recent Examples on the Web British capitulation in our War of Independence had given us liberty from colonial rule and from monarchy. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 May 2024 The name of his political faction, the Combatant Clergy Association, hints at his place in the authoritarian theocratic system that in 1979 replaced the monarchy that had ruled Iran for much of the 20th Century. Karl Vick, TIME, 20 May 2024 Then, from the first two seasons, Foy’s queen tells her that her monarchy is a duty that cannot be abandoned. Clayton Davis, Variety, 20 May 2024 Mark Twain said citizenship is what makes a republic; monarchies can get along without it. For Carroll County Times, Baltimore Sun, 14 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for monarchy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monarchy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of monarchy was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near monarchy

Cite this Entry

“Monarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarchy. Accessed 6 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

monarchy

noun
mon·​ar·​chy ˈmän-ər-kē How to pronounce monarchy (audio)
plural monarchies
1
: total rule by one person
2
: a nation or country ruled by a monarch
3
: a form of government having a chief of state who inherits the position, rules for life, and holds powers varying from very limited to total
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!