autocracy vs. oligarchy

autocracy

[ aw-tok-ruh-see ]show ipa

noun,

1. government in which one person has uncontrolled or unlimited authority over others; the government or power of an absolute monarch.
2. a nation, state, or community ruled by an autocrat.
3. unlimited authority, power, or influence of one person in any group.

oligarchy

[ ol-i-gahr-kee ]show ipa

noun,

1. a form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.
2. a state or organization so ruled.
3. the persons or class so ruling.