noun
oligarch
OL-ih-gark
Oligarch (noun) means a very rich businessman who wields political influence, especially one of those who acquired vast state assets in Russia and other post-Soviet countries after 1991. Example: “Sanctions froze the yachts of several Russian oligarchs.”
noun
1
A very rich businessman who wields political influence, especially one of those who acquired vast state assets in Russia and other post-Soviet countries after 1991.
"Sanctions froze the yachts of several Russian oligarchs."
"The oligarchs bought up privatised industries at a fraction of their value."
2
A member of a small group that holds power in a state or organisation.
"Power rested with a handful of oligarchs drawn from the landowning families."
How to use oligarch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA super-rich person whose money buys real political power.
When to use it
Always pejorative. Nobody applies it to themselves.
Memory tip
Note the pronunciation: the ch is a hard k, OL-ih-gark, not "-arch" as in march.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
Russian oligarch
sanctioned oligarchs
oligarch's yacht
a class of oligarchs
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Sanctions froze the yachts of several Russian _____.
Etymology
From Greek oligarkhes, from oligoi "few" and arkhein "to rule".
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an oligarch and a billionaire?
A billionaire is defined purely by wealth. An oligarch is defined by the conversion of that wealth into political power, usually with the state's help — the fortune and the influence sustain each other.
Why are Russian businessmen called oligarchs?
The label stuck to the handful of men who took ownership of huge former state enterprises during the privatisations of the 1990s and then exercised open influence over the government. The word has since been extended to comparable figures in Ukraine, Kazakhstan and beyond.
Can an American be an oligarch?
The word is increasingly used that way, in arguments that concentrated wealth translates directly into political power in the United States. It remains a contested and polemical usage rather than a neutral description.
What is the meaning of oligarch?
"oligarch" (noun) means a very rich businessman who wields political influence, especially one of those who acquired vast state assets in Russia and other post-Soviet countries after 1991.
