monarch

[ mon-erk, -ahrk ]

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.

monarch

/ 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 calledmilkweed a large migratory butterfly, Danaus plexippus, that has orange-and-black wings and feeds on the milkweed plant: family Danaidae

Derived Forms

• moˈnarchical, adjective
• ˈmonarchist, nounadjective
• moˈnarchally, adverb
• ˌmonarˈchistic, adjective
• ˈmonarchism, noun
• moˈnarchically, adverb
• monarchal, adjective

Other Words From

• anti·monarch adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of monarch¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of monarch¹

C15: from Late Latin monarcha, from Greek; see mono- , -arch

Related Words

• emperor
• king
• queen
• sovereign