monopoly

noun mo·nop·o·ly \ mə-ˈnä-p(ə-)lē \

|Updated on: 10 Aug 2018

Examples: monopoly in a Sentence

Definition of monopoly

plural monopolies

1 : exclusive ownership through legal privilege, command of supply, or concerted action

2 : exclusive possession or control

no country has a monopoly on morality or truth
—Helen M. Lynd

3 : a commodity controlled by one party

had a monopoly on flint from their quarries
—Barbara A. Leitch

4 : one that has a monopoly

The government passed laws intended to break up monopolies.

See monopoly defined for English-language learners

See monopoly defined for kids

Examples of monopoly in a Sentence

The government passed laws intended to break up monopolies.

Recent Examples of monopoly from the Web

Of course, Wisconsin does not have a monopoly on farm camps.

— anne schamberg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Farming out the kids: Gathering eggs, milking cows, cooking teach about country life," 3 July 2018
By creating a sort of monopoly, could a mandate for official data actually do more harm than good?

— New York Times, "When Sports Betting Is Legal, the Value of Game Data Soars," 2 July 2018
The left claims to have a monopoly of compassion for women.

— Fox News, "Gorka, Hollman preview Trump's upcoming summit with Putin," 30 June 2018
This decision allowed human genes useful in diagnosing breast and ovarian cancer to escape the stranglehold of a corporate monopoly, and gave rise to an international conversation on the ethics of biological patents.

— ryan p. smith, Smithsonian, "Nearly Half the Patents on Marine Genes Belong to Just One Company," 13 June 2018
As recently as the 1980s, the breakup of AT&T’s telephone monopoly opened up the telecommunications market.

— robert levine, BostonGlobe.com, "Google is hugely powerful. Is antitrust law up to the job?," 13 June 2018
The beneficiaries of this monopoly need do nothing to get the benefit of this gift.

— lawrence lessig, WIRED, "Congress' Latest Move to Extend Copyright Protection Is Misguided," 18 May 2018
Presidential front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has threatened to dial back reforms that have lured oil majors back into Mexico after decades of state monopoly.

— amy stillman, Bloomberg.com, "Pemex's Trevino Rushes to Put House in Order Before Elections," 16 May 2018
Uber operating illegally in itself wasn’t an antitrust violation, the decision stated, and the risk of monopoly was offset by the existence of other ride-hailing apps, such as Lyft.

— jason laughlin, Philly.com, "Philadelphia taxis lose another legal challenge to Uber," 28 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'monopoly.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of monopoly

Latin monopolium, from Greek monopōlion, from mon- + pōlein to sell

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1534

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

MONOPOLY Defined for English Language Learners

monopoly

noun

Definition of monopoly for English Language Learners

: complete control of the entire supply of goods or of a service in a certain area or market
: a large company that has a monopoly
: complete ownership or control of something

MONOPOLY Defined for Kids

monopoly

noun mo·nop·o·ly \ mə-ˈnä-pə-lē \

Definition of monopoly for Students

plural monopolies

1 : complete ownership or control of the entire supply of goods or a service in a certain market

2 : a person or group having complete control over something

The laws are intended to prevent monopolies.

3 : complete ownership or control of something

He thinks he has a monopoly on the truth.

Law Dictionary

monopoly

noun mo·nop·o·ly \ mə-ˈnä-pə-lē \

legal Definition of monopoly

plural monopolies

1 : exclusive control of a particular market that is marked by the power to control prices and exclude competition and that especially is developed willfully rather than as the result of superior products or skill — see also antitrust, Sherman Antitrust Act

2 : one that has a monopoly