monopoly

[ muh-nop-uh-lee ]

noun

, plural mo·nop·o·lies.

1. exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market, or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices. Compare duopoly, oligopoly.
2. an exclusive privilege to carry on a business, traffic, or service, granted by a government.
3. the exclusive possession or control of something.
4. something that is the subject of such control, as a commodity or service.
5. a company or group that has such control.
6. the market condition that exists when there is only one seller.
7. (initial capital letter) a board game in which a player attempts to gain a monopoly of real estate by advancing around the board and purchasing property, acquiring capital by collecting rent from other players whose pieces land on that property.

monopoly

¹

/ məˈnɒpəlɪ /

noun

1. exclusive control of the market supply of a product or service
2. 1. an enterprise exercising this control
   2. the product or service so controlled
3. law the exclusive right or privilege granted to a person, company, etc, by the state to purchase, manufacture, use, or sell some commodity or to carry on trade in a specified country or area
4. exclusive control, possession, or use of something

Monopoly

²

/ məˈnɒpəlɪ /

noun

1. a board game for two to six players who throw dice to advance their tokens around a board, the object being to acquire the property on which their tokens land

monopoly

1. The exclusive control by one company of a service or product.

Derived Forms

• moˈnopolism, noun
• moˌnopoˈlistic, adjective
• moˈnopolist, noun
• moˌnopoˈlistically, adverb

Other Words From

• mo·nopo·loid adjective
• anti·mo·nopo·ly adjective
• premo·nopo·ly noun plural premonopolies adjective
• promo·nopo·ly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of monopoly¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin monopōlium, from Greek monopṓlion “right of exclusive sale,” from mono- mono- + pōl(eîn) “to sell” + -ion, noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of monopoly¹

C16: from Late Latin, from Greek monopōlion, from mono- + pōlein to sell

Example Sentences

Most of the vendors were, like this woman, honorary Jews for the night, not that Jews have a monopoly on potato pancakes.

From The Daily Beast

For decades, these two industrial brewers have basked in a sort of shared-monopoly over the Panamanian beer racket.

From The Daily Beast

Mattson says the government bogarts this stuff, gathered at taxpayer expense, and maintains “a monopoly on the data.”

From The Daily Beast

Ma wrote online, “Let the users decide who wins the game, not monopoly and power.”

From The Daily Beast

And lest you be deceived, primary elections are no partisan monopoly.

From The Daily Beast

In 1622 a monopoly of the importation of tobacco was granted to the Virginia and Somers Island, companies.

From Project Gutenberg

He continued its sale, however, as a kingly monopoly, allowing only those to engage in it who paid him for the privilege.

From Project Gutenberg

From its first cultivation in these countries it has been a government monopoly.

From Project Gutenberg

Let it be observed also that we have hitherto been speaking as if all things were produced under a monopoly.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the one which is sometimes called in books on economics the case of an unique monopoly.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cartel
• holding
• ownership
• patent
• trust