oligopoly

noun

ol·​i·​gop·​o·​ly ˌä-lə-ˈgä-pə-lē 

ˌō-

: a market situation in which each of a few producers affects but does not control the market

oligopolist

ˌä-lə-ˈgä-pə-list 

ˌō-

noun

oligopolistic

ˌä-lə-ˌgä-pə-ˈli-stik 

ˌō-

adjective

Examples of oligopoly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 1934, in tune with the outlook of FDR’s New Deal, the 1927 act was replaced with more expansive legislation giving the commission greater power and purview, including over the hegemonic AT&T, the telephone oligopoly. —Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025

Even Trump's Department of Justice has called the three carriers' dominance an oligopoly. —Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2025

The reliance on this pricing clause originated in the 1970s when LNG markets were immature and essentially an oligopoly. —Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025

Without open academic research, the AI oligopoly will only further cement itself. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 11 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

olig- + -poly (as in monopoly)

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for oligopoly

• trichinopoly
• antimonopoly
• monopoly

Legal Definition

oligopoly

noun

ol·​i·​gop·​o·​ly ˌä-li-ˈgä-pə-lē, ˌō- 

plural oligopolies

: a condition in which a few sellers dominate a particular market to the detriment of competition by others