1
: a person who reigns over a kingdom or empire: such as
a
: a sovereign ruler
b
: a constitutional (see constitutional entry 1 sense 3) king or queen
2
: one that holds preeminent position or power
cotton, monarch of the textile world—
Wall Street Journal
Wall Street JournalExamples of monarch in a Sentence
a new history of French monarchs
the ruling monarch of Britain at that time was Queen Elizabeth I
Recent Examples on the Web
The monarch appeared to tell a quick joke in reaction, which made those around him smile.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The monarch had been paying for Andrew’s security after the prince lost his police protection in 2022.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II was already the monarch when the de Havilland DH106 1A Comet G-ALYP took off from London Airport — as Heathrow was then known — about 3 p.m. on May 2, 1952, carrying the world’s first fare-paying jet passengers.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025
One of Camilla’s Lady-in-Waiting, Sarah Troughton was given a Royal Victorian Order in 2025 for service to the monarch.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monarch
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Janine Henni, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
The monarch had been paying for Andrew’s security after the prince lost his police protection in 2022.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Britain’s late Queen Elizabeth II was already the monarch when the de Havilland DH106 1A Comet G-ALYP took off from London Airport — as Heathrow was then known — about 3 p.m. on May 2, 1952, carrying the world’s first fare-paying jet passengers.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2025
One of Camilla’s Lady-in-Waiting, Sarah Troughton was given a Royal Victorian Order in 2025 for service to the monarch.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for monarch
Cite this Entry
“Monarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarch. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
monarch
noun
mon·arch
ˈmän-ərk 
-ˌärk
1
: a person who reigns over a kingdom or empire: as
a
: a ruler who has total power
absolute monarch
b
: someone who acts primarily as chief of state and who has only limited powers
constitutional monarch
2
: someone or something like a monarch
the oak is the monarch of the forest
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