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monarchy

noun

Definition of monarchynext
1
as in monarchism
a system of government in which there is only one ruler whose power is unlimited Under a monarchy, the position of ruler is often passed down from parent to child.

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2
as in democracy
a group of people who live in a territory ruled by a single person The country was formerly a monarchy, but has now transitioned to a republic.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of monarchy The series spans Brussels, Leopoldville, Rome and Madrid, connecting Belgium’s monarchy with Cold War geopolitics and Catholic influence. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026 Middle Eastern and North African Queen Names The Middle East and North Africa boast a rich history of powerful queens spanning ancient Egypt to modern-day monarchies. — Liz Regalia, Parents, 9 Sep. 2026 Despite the rainy day, all three were clad in brown suede fall-ready shoes to complete their formal ensembles, and the familial coordination drew attention to the unwritten dress code of the British monarchy. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2026 The name comes from the organizers' argument that the United States is a democracy, not a monarchy, and that no president is above the Constitution, courts, Congress, or the people. — Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monarchy
  1. monarchism
  2. democracy
  3. republic
  4. dictatorship
  5. sovereign
  6. kingdom
  7. commonwealth
  8. nation
Noun
  • But for anyone outside the British elite, the constitutional monarchism that emerged after the civil wars did not look much like democracy or true liberty.
    — Andrew Cockburn, Harper's Magazine, 20 Aug. 2024
  • And the Decemberists tried to overthrow the Tsar and insist on having some of the more basic aspects of representative constitutional monarchism introduced into Russia.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 7 Dec. 2022
Definition of monarchism
Noun
  • Of course, democracy is not a sufficient condition for disarmament, much less abolition.
    — Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The political climate that culminated in the 1940 Constitution was embraced by much of Cuba’s artistic and intellectual community as part of a broader quest for democracy and modernization.
    — Dennys Matos, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of democracy
Noun
  • Grunis had previously fought in Chechnya, a mainly Muslim republic whose bid for independence after the Soviet Union’s collapse led to years of war with Russian government forces.
    — Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Grunis had previously fought in Chechnya, a mainly Muslim republic whose bid for independence after the Soviet Union’s collapse led to years of war with Russian government forces, and also took part in Russia’s campaign in Syria.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of republic
Noun
  • In those years many Latin American countries had repressive governments, military coups, dictatorships, and undeclared wars against the poor and the indigenous population, which were backed by the CIA in the context of the Cold War.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • In Peru under dictatorship, two of three long-time lovers marry for appearances but flee from their conservative rural community for the capital after their secret is exposed by the third.
    — Katherine Brodsky, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of dictatorship
Noun
  • The couple will remain non-working royals and will not be carrying out any official royal engagements on behalf of the sovereign, the document said.
    — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The former sovereign, 86, who abdicated the throne in 2024, was instead represented by her son and successor, King Frederik, his wife, Queen Mary, his son and heir, Crown Prince Christian, and Queen Margrethe’s younger sister, Princess Benedikte.
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of sovereign
Noun
  • The native people of this region were not wiped out by smallpox and instead established an independent kingdom that blends a traditional monarchy with Catholicism, thanks to the efforts of some earlier missionaries.
    — John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Earlier this month, drone attacks attributed by Saudi Arabia to Iraqi militias damaged the kingdom’s East-West pipeline, a key route for moving crude to the Red Sea and allowing Saudi oil exports to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of kingdom
Noun
  • The order comes as groups across the commonwealth are recognizing the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center towers in New York City, which killed 2,977 people.
    — Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Shortly after her arrival at her grandmother’s, in 1900, Australia transforms from six British colonies into a single, largely self-governing commonwealth.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of commonwealth
Noun
  • The exact circumstances in each nation differ, but vaccination gaps are a common thread, leading some experts to question if more catastrophic measles outbreaks are around the corner.
    — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Yet at an event on Thursday, Huang displayed unwavering confidence, projecting that Nvidia's chip sales will double next year as nations and corporations continue scaling up AI investments.
    — , CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of nation

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Cite this Entry

“Monarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monarchy. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on monarchy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about monarchy

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