oligarchy

ol·i·gar·chy  (l-gärk, l-)

n. pl. ol·i·gar·chies

1.

a. Government by a few, especially by a small faction of persons or families.

b. Those making up such a government.

2. A state governed by a few persons.

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oli·garchic, oli·garchi·cal adj.

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oligarchy [ol-lee-gark-ee]

Noun

pl -chies

1. government by a small group of people

2. a state governed this way

3. a small group of people governing such a state [Greek oligos few + arkhein to rule]

oligarchic
oligarchical adj

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oligarchy

1. a system of rule by a few persons.
2. the people who form such a government. — oligarch, n. — oligarchie, oligarchical, adj.

See also: Government

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

oligarchy - a political system governed by a few people; "one of his cardinal convictions was that Britain was not run as a democracy but as an oligarchy"; "the big cities were notoriously in the hands of the oligarchy of local businessmen" form of government, political system - the members of a social organization who are in power