monarch

American  

[mon-erk, -ahrk] / ˈmɒn ərk, -ɑrk /

noun

1. a hereditary sovereign, as a king, queen, or emperor.

2. a sole and absolute ruler of a state or nation.

3. a person or thing that holds a dominant position.

   a monarch of international shipping.

4. monarch butterfly.

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monarch British  

/ ˈmɒnək, mɒˈnɑːkəl, mɒˈnɑːkɪəl /

noun

1. a sovereign head of state, esp a king, queen, or emperor, who rules usually by hereditary right

2. a supremely powerful or pre-eminent person or thing

3. Also called: milkweed.  a large migratory butterfly, Danaus plexippus, that has orange-and-black wings and feeds on the milkweed plant: family Danaidae

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Other Word Forms

• antimonarch adjective
• monarchal adjective
• monarchally adverb
• monarchical adjective
• monarchically adverb
• monarchism noun
• monarchist noun
• monarchistic adjective

Etymology

Origin of monarch

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French monarche, monarch, from Late Latin monarcha, from Greek mónarchos “sole ruler, monarch”; mon-, -arch

Example Sentences

The former monarch, 87, has lived in self-imposed exile in the United Arab Emirates since 2020 after a series of extramarital and financial scandals tarnished his reputation.

From Barron's

Three monarchs have been on the throne during my lifetime, and each understood that what matters is the impression they make on their subjects: their image.

From BBC

Saudi Arabia’s brash young man in a hurry is poised to become a mature monarch on a mission.

From The Wall Street Journal

Although this is only the third year of his reign, Charles at the age of 77 is now in fifth place in the longest-lived British monarchs.

From BBC

In my mind, stovetop will always be the monarch of methods — warmth adds its own kind of tenderness — but for weekday ease, my secret weapon is the rice cooker.

From Salon

Related Words

• emperor
• king
• queen
• sovereign