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

The future of the monarchy depends on them. —Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025

The country was already buckling under decades of financial mismanagement, an upside-down tax system, obstructionist high courts, and a monarchy unwilling to modernize. —Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 29 Dec. 2025

In 2025, the monarchy weathered one of its most headline-grabbing years yet, as King Charles III continued treatment for his undisclosed form of cancer. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025

Through it all, Kate and William balanced expanding royal duties with school runs and family life, even as illness still shadows the monarchy. —Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025

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