monarchy

noun

mon·​ar·​chy ˈmä-nər-kē How to pronounce monarchy (audio)
also -ˌnär-
plural monarchies
Synonyms of monarchy
1
: undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person
Saudi Arabia is governed by a monarchy.
2
: a nation or state having a monarchical government
Britain is a monarchy.
3
: a government having a hereditary chief of state with life tenure and powers varying from nominal to absolute
The country's hereditary monarchy survived for centuries.

Examples of monarchy in a Sentence

the French monarchy of the 18th century
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The new king must steady royal fortunes amid damaging scrutiny of Queen Mette-Marit’s past ties to Jeffrey Epstein and stepson Marius Høiby’s rape conviction, which has eroded public support for the monarchy. — Jan M. Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 The scandals involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor have undermined the reputation of the monarchy, and the King, still receiving cancer treatment, needs family support as never before. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026 This strategic move undermined the Nazis’ ability to use the monarchy to legitimize their occupation. — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026 Over the last six years, the pair have made a series of explosive allegations about what life was like inside the monarchy, much to the dismay of many members of the British royal family. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for monarchy

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of monarchy was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing monarchy

Browse Nearby Words

monarchomachic
monarchy
monarda
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Monarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarchy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

monarchy

noun
mon·​ar·​chy ˈmän-ər-kē How to pronounce monarchy (audio)
plural monarchies
1
: total rule by one person
2
: a nation or country ruled by a monarch
3
: a form of government having a chief of state who inherits the position, rules for life, and holds powers varying from very limited to total

More from Merriam-Webster on monarchy

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for monarchy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about monarchy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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