tetrarchy

noun

te·​trar·​chy ˈte-ˌträr-kē How to pronounce tetrarchy (audio)
ˈtē-
plural tetrarchies
: government by four persons ruling jointly

Examples of tetrarchy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Emperor Diocletian tried to bring order by distributing power to a four-ruler tetrarchy that would govern the four quarters of the empire. Kristin Baird Rattini, National Geographic, 25 Feb. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tetrarchy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tetrarchy was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near tetrarchy

Cite this Entry

“Tetrarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tetrarchy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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