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

In the 1970s, Iran thrived as a modernizing, pro-Western monarchy with the capital, Tehran, a cosmopolitan hub. —Sharyl Attkisson, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2025

Pakistan was among the earliest countries to establish new diplomatic ties with Iran following its 1979 Islamic Revolution that ousted pro-Western monarchy and put in place the country's current theocratic system. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 June 2025

The two governments have had no diplomatic relations since the aftermath of the 1979 revolution that toppled the pro-U.S. monarchy, with no embassies operating in either capital. —Nbc News, NBC news, 20 June 2025

The extravagant, dissolute life Prince Albert II of Monaco continues to bolster arguments of those who think that hereditary monarchies should not be allowed to exist in the 21st century. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 18 June 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