noun
Common
monarchy
MO-nuh-kee
Monarchy (noun) means a system of government headed by a king, queen, or other hereditary ruler. Example: “The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy.”
noun
1
A system of government headed by a king, queen, or other hereditary ruler.
"The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy."
"Many European monarchies today have largely symbolic power."
"In a monarchy, the right to rule often passes from parent to child."
2
A country or territory ruled by a monarch.
"Spain remained a monarchy even after decades of dictatorship."
"Norway is a monarchy in the north of Europe."
"Our history teacher asked which monarchy we would most like to visit."
How to use monarchy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA country or system ruled by a king or queen, or the institution of hereditary rule itself.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
constitutional monarchy
absolute monarchy
abolish the monarchy
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Word forms
- Plural
- monarchies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The United Kingdom is a constitutional _____.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek monarkhía, built from mónos ("only") and arkhḗ ("rule, authority").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for monarchy
See all rhymes for monarchy →Frequently asked questions
What does “monarchy” mean?
The word “monarchy” means a system of government headed by a king, queen, or other hereditary ruler. In plain terms, a country or system ruled by a king or queen, or the institution of hereditary rule itself.
How do you pronounce “monarchy”?
“Monarchy” is pronounced MO-nuh-kee (/ˈmɑnɚki/ in IPA).
How do you use “monarchy” in a sentence?
Here is “monarchy” used in a sentence: “The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy.”
What is another word for “monarchy”?
Words with a similar meaning to “monarchy” include kingdom.
What part of speech is “monarchy”?
“Monarchy” is a noun.
Where does the word “monarchy” come from?
The word “monarchy” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek monarkhía, built from mónos ("only") and arkhḗ ("rule, authority").
Is “monarchy” a common word?
“Monarchy” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “monarchy” have?
“Monarchy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a system of government headed by a king, queen, or other hereditary ruler.
What is the difference between a monarchy and a republic?
A monarchy is headed by a king, queen, or other hereditary ruler, while a republic is led by officials who are elected rather than inheriting their position. Power in a monarchy typically passes down through a royal family line.
What is the difference between an absolute monarchy and a constitutional monarchy?
In an absolute monarchy, the ruler holds near-total governing power, while in a constitutional monarchy, the monarch's authority is limited by a constitution and shared with elected bodies like a parliament. Many modern monarchies operate under the constitutional model.
Can monarchy refer to a country rather than just a system of government?
Yes, monarchy can also refer to the country or territory itself that is ruled by a monarch, not just the governing system. For example, a nation with a king or queen may itself be called a monarchy.
