Definition of monopoly
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.
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Examples of monopoly in a Sentence
The government passed laws intended to break up monopolies.
Recent Examples of monopoly from the Web
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Unlike the United States, where regulators only look at whether a monopoly practice hurts consumers, the EC can look at whether competitors are getting hurt.
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For more information, read our in-depth explainer on the long-running Google vs. Europe anti-monopoly case.
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In another controversial decision Sunday, his government promoted a bill to maintain the ultra-Orthodox monopoly over conversions.
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Other hurdles could still delay the project, mostly in the form of the Moroun family's seemingly endless legal challenges to protect their current monopoly at the Ambassador Bridge.
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State companies -- insulated from market pressures by monopolies and access to government financing -- are seen by many as a drag on the world’s second-largest economy.
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At the same time, the barriers to entry are not high enough to allow Uber to achieve a monopoly.
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In fact, closing off access to global markets created new opportunities for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to tighten its grip on the economy through smuggling and monopolies.
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Gentile said there are 12 states where there is a health insurance monopoly and people in those 12 states should have access to the same medical market place as Congress.
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
Other Business Terms
MONOPOLY Defined for English Language Learners
monopoly
playDefinition of monopoly for English Language Learners
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: complete control of the entire supply of goods or of a service in a certain area or market
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: a large company that has a monopoly
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: complete ownership or control of something
MONOPOLY Defined for Kids
monopoly
playDefinition of monopoly for Students
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
playLegal Definition of monopoly
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
Learn More about monopoly
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Spanish Central: Translation of monopoly Nglish: Translation of monopoly for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of monopoly for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about monopoly
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