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monarchy
[ mon-er-kee ]
noun
- a state or nation in which the supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in a monarch. Compare absolute monarchy, limited monarchy.
- supreme power or sovereignty held by a single person.
monarchy
/ ˈmɒnəkɪ /
noun
- a form of government in which supreme authority is vested in a single and usually hereditary figure, such as a king, and whose powers can vary from those of an absolute despot to those of a figurehead
- a country reigned over by a king, prince, or other monarch
monarchy
- A system of government in which one person reigns, usually a king or queen. The authority, or crown, in a monarchy is generally inherited. The ruler, or monarch, is often only the head of state, not the head of government. Many monarchies, such as Britain and Denmark , are actually governed by parliaments . ( See absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy .)
Other Words From
- anti·monar·chy adjective
- pro·monar·chy adjective
Word History and Origins
Compare Meanings
How does monarchy compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Piers Morgan, also famously no great fan of the couple, called the decision to name the baby Lilibet “ironic,” given the damage that the couple have wreaked on the reputation of the monarchy in their recent television appearances.
I would like a monarchy that has more contact with its people.
That’s Shakespeare, who was, of course, writing under a monarchy.
A string of scandals sparked an unprecedented debate in the UK about the merits and drawbacks of the monarchy, an institution that can seem archaic to some, but whose members enjoy broad support among the British public.
Everything has to work in the benefit of the monarchy, the crown and the British royal family.
Did the French monarchy end not with a bang—or a whimper—but a smile?
How about adopting the Scandinavian “bicycle monarchy” model, for example?
Ever since, the Saudis have seen the Brotherhood as both a domestic and geopolitical threat to the monarchy.
The stylish new family have been a breath of fresh air for the British monarchy.
The Guardian reported that “the cost of the monarchy to the public purse last year was £35.7m.”
At one fell swoop on the field of Jena, the famed military monarchy of the great Frederick fell in pieces like a potter's vessel.
It was not till the accession of the July monarchy that the Duke of Treviso once again played a prominent part.
Was it to be still part of the Portuguese monarchy, with a separate supreme jurisdiction civil and criminal under the Prince?
The friends of the monarchy soon found all efforts at concealment unavailing.
The English and Scotch are republicans, with democratic institutions, living under a monarchy.
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More About Monarchy
What is a monarchy?
A monarchy is a form of government in which the supreme power is held by one person, either officially or ceremonially.
In a monarchy, one person rules the government, and no human is above them in power. The ruler of a monarchy is called a monarch, and their position is nearly always hereditary, meaning that a member of their family will inherit their position when they die or willingly give up their power (known as abdicitation).
Throughout history, monarchies have been a relatively common form of government. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs, the Roman and Chinese emperors, and the large number of European kings and queens ruled over monarchies.
There are two major types of monarchies:
- In an absolute monarchy, the supreme ruler has total, unlimited power. Nobody can tell them what to do, and they can order their people to do anything they want. This form of monarchy was more common in the past than it is today. Some examples of modern countries with this form of monarchy are Swaziland and Saudi Arabia.
- In a limited monarchy or constitutional monarchy, the supreme ruler has limits on what they are actually able to do. Usually, their power is determined by a written constitution or a governing body that can restrain the actions they want to do. Of the monarchies that still exist today, most of them are limited monarchies, including those found in the United Kingdom and Norway.
Why is monarchy important?
The first records of the word monarchy come from around 1300. It ultimately comes from the Greek monarchía. Actual monarchies are much older than this, with the early Sumer and Egyptian monarchies beginning thousands of years ago.
For most monarchies throughout history, a ruler’s power was believed to have been given to them by God or another divine being. Interestingly, this was true in many kingdoms across the world, regardless of culture or religion. This went a long way to preventing rebellions or uprisings.
There are around 44 countries led by monarchies today, the majority of which are constitutional monarchies. Most modern monarchs have traditional or ceremonial positions and have little to no power to actually control the government.
Did you know … ?
Japan’s Yamato dynasty claims to be the world’s oldest monarchy that still survives today. According to Japanese legends, the Yamato have ruled since the 500s. The current Japanese emperor, Akihito, claims to be the 125th emperor in Japanese history and a direct descendent of the legendary first emperor of Japan, Jimmu.
What are real-life examples of monarchy?
Monarchies are one of the types of government that still exist today.
Is it too late for us to start a monarchy in the US?
— bert kreischer (@bertkreischer) January 4, 2021
I would really like to sit around and watch high quality, historical series about monarchies a la The Crown, Victoria and The Great.
— hailey alcaraz (@alcarazbooks) January 3, 2021
What other words are related to monarchy?
Quiz yourself!
In a monarchy, supreme power is held by:
A. one person
B. a council of elders
C. a parliament
D. a family
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