monarchy

noun

mon·​ar·​chy ˈmä-nər-kē 

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

Employees allege the company is run like a monarchy, with those at the top ruling with impunity. — Alessandra Schade, Vanity Fair, 28 Oct. 2026

Britain and the monarchy have struggled with these issues before. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026

In recent years, the British monarchy has adopted a more conciliatory tone when addressing the horrors of slavery. — Rupert Neate, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2026

Advertisement Several branches of the Japanese imperial family renounced their royal status in 1947 to cut down on costs the monarchy incurred after the war. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 26 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing monarchy

• absolute monarchy
• constitutional monarchy

Kids Definition

monarchy

noun

mon·​ar·​chy ˈmän-ər-kē 

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