monopoly

noun mo·nop·o·ly \ mə-ˈnä-p(ə-)lē \

Updated on: 21 Apr 2018

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

Europe and Japan also have grumbled about the monopolies and other privileges given to SOEs.

— joe mcdonald, chicagotribune.com, "What's at stake in China-U.S. trade dispute," 4 Apr. 2018
The tourist dollars over which Sin City once had a monopoly became diffused while the city still needed them to prop up the local economy.

— charles p. pierce, SI.com, "Win City: The Playoff-Bound Golden Knights Have Helped Humanize—and Heal—Las Vegas," 4 Apr. 2018
However, the arguments about innocent monopolies and consumer benefits ignore a mushrooming danger to small businesses—and U.S. job growth.

— hemant taneja, Fortune, "Commentary: It’s Time for Washington to Take on the Tech Monopolies," 2 Apr. 2018
The gist is that the state has a monopoly on force.

— jason christian, The New Republic, "Confessions of a Former Left-Wing Gun Nut," 29 Mar. 2018
So, the Heartland voters are all behind breaking up media monopolies and net neutrality, right?

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Are Americans Going to Vote Their Hopes, or Vote Their Fears?," 11 Jan. 2018
If Pruitt effectively had a monopoly on the room and was able to keep his things there, that's not really Airbnb; that's being a tenant.

— aaron blake, Washington Post, "Scott Pruitt’s $50-per-night condo looks really bad," 31 Mar. 2018
Carroll no longer has a monopoly on talent in this area.

— mac engel, star-telegram, "Carroll's new Dodge works if he's not expected to be the old Dodge | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 26 Mar. 2018
Now, monopolies are historically bad for innovation and progress.

— eric bleeker, USA TODAY, "Congress turns a blind eye to this virtual monopoly," 20 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

: 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 \

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 \

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