Definition of MONARCHY

monarchy

Meanings

Plural: monarchies

Noun

  • an autocracy governed by a monarch who usually inherits the authority
  • A government in which sovereignty is embodied within a single, today usually hereditary head of state (whether as a figurehead or as a powerful ruler).
  • The territory ruled over by a monarch; a kingdom.
  • A form of government where sovereignty is embodied by a single ruler in a state and his high aristocracy representing their separate divided lands within the state and their low aristocracy representing their separate divided fiefs.
  • States based on a system of governance headed by a king or a queen.

Origin / Etymology

From Old French monarchie, from Late Latin monarchia, from Ancient Greek μοναρχία (monarkhía), from μόνος (mónos, “only”) + ἀρχή (arkhḗ, “power, authority”). By surface analysis, mon- (“one, single”) + -archy (“rule, command”).

Synonyms

government, kingdom

Scrabble Score: 18

monarchy is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
monarchy is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
monarchy is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

monarchy is a valid Words With Friends word