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 distinction Camilla was concerned about was between the private family and the public monarchy. — Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Sep. 2026 Their paths cross during the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, and what begins as an unexpected romance develops into an impossible love that must navigate public scrutiny, royal tradition, and the expectations of the Swedish monarchy. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026 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 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
  • Mekela Panditharatne, senior counsel in the democracy program at the Brennan Center for Justice, warned that such conversations hold risks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The projects engage with such resonant themes as digital labor, bodily memory, virtual violence, and collective participation in democracies.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of democracy
Noun
  • The vote comes as the small republic on NATO's eastern flank contends with growing concern about potential Russian aggression.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Yogyakarta is a rare thing, a sultan’s kingdom inside of a country that is otherwise a republic.
    — Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of republic
Noun
  • This is a sensitive moment for Brazil's democracy Brazil emerged from military dictatorship in 1985 and has since developed into one of the world's largest democracies.
    — Catherine Osborn, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Cseh, the archive's director, said successor governments to dictatorships rarely disclose the names of previous agents and informants, let alone records as detailed as those Hungary is preparing to release.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of dictatorship
Noun
  • Only three African sovereigns hold investment grade ratings, according to a background note from the AU’s African Peer Review Mechanism (ARPM).
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Against encroaching social upheavals, the sovereign was resolutely the center of a mercantilist universe.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of sovereign
Noun
  • Samuel, or Samuil in Bulgarian, was a warrior emperor who battled the Byzantine Empire to expand his kingdom but was ultimately defeated and died shortly afterward in 1014.
    — COSTAS KANTOURIS, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • That has left the kingdom searching for friends beyond Washington, for allies ready to put rockets where the rhetoric is and assist in a fight Saudi Arabia considers existential.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of kingdom
Noun
  • Months later, in July 2025, Shapiro announced Amazon would invest $20 billion in an AI buildout in Pennsylvania, the largest capital investment in the commonwealth’s history.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Prosecutors for the commonwealth of Massachusetts must now decide whether to retry Clancy.
    — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of commonwealth
Noun
  • Gone are the four nations, corresponding to the elements, who coexisted in harmony that was disrupted and then, episode by episode, restored.
    — Alison Herman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Like many issues in public health, cost and red tape within the health care system are factors in our nation’s lack of progress.
    — Philip A. Chan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of nation

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monarchy
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Cite this Entry

“Monarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monarchy. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on monarchy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about monarchy

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