noun
tetrarchy
TET-rar-kee
Tetrarchy (noun) means a system of government in which power is shared by four people. Example: “Historians often describe the late Roman Empire under Diocletian as a tetrarchy.”
noun
1
A system of government in which power is shared by four people.
"Historians often describe the late Roman Empire under Diocletian as a tetrarchy."
"A tetrarchy is harder to run than a monarchy because four rulers must agree."
"The essay compares a tetrarchy with a system of two joint rulers."
2
The territory ruled by such a government or by one of its rulers.
"Each ruler governed a separate tetrarchy within the wider territory."
"The region was divided into four parts, and each part was called a tetrarchy."
How to use tetrarchy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRule by four people, or the land they rule.
When to use it
It is mostly a historical and political term.
Common pairings
the Tetrarchy of Diocletian
the Herodian tetrarchy
a tetrarchy of four rulers
establish a tetrarchy
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Historians often describe the late Roman Empire under Diocletian as a _____.
Etymology
The word came into English from Latin tetrarchia, which came from Ancient Greek. The Greek word joins a prefix meaning four to an ending meaning rule.
Rhymes for tetrarchy
See all rhymes for tetrarchy →Frequently asked questions
What does tetrarchy mean?
It means a government in which four people share power. It can also mean the land they rule.
What was the Tetrarchy of Diocletian?
It was the arrangement in which four rulers shared power over the Roman Empire, in the years 293 to 313 according to the dictionary entry.
What is a tetrarch?
A tetrarch is a ruler within a tetrarchy. The word is related to tetrarchy.
What is the meaning of tetrarchy?
"tetrarchy" (noun) means a system of government in which power is shared by four people.
