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

Meanwhile, the wealthy monarchy of Qatar, which sits on some of the world’s biggest natural gas reserves and maintains a vast and fragile infrastructure to extract it, has taken a much more conciliatory position, calling for immediate de-escalation and a quick return to business. —Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026

After the restoration of the Stuart monarchy, English shipping nearly doubled in tonnage between 1666 and 1688. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

The decision by William was reportedly made in an attempt to protect the monarchy’s public image. —Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 1 Apr. 2026

Rather than selecting a piece from the royal collection, her decision to wear her own family tiara has often been interpreted as a subtle assertion of personal identity within the constraints of monarchy. —Eloise Moran, InStyle, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing 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