Main Entry: ol·i·gar·chy

Pronunciation: \ˈä-lə-ˌgär-kē, ˈō-\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural ol·i·gar·chies

Date: 1542

1 : government by the few
2 : a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes; also : a group exercising such control
3 : an organization under oligarchic control