oligarchy

From French oligarchie, from Latin oligarchia, from Ancient Greek ὀλιγαρχία (oligarkhía), from ὀλίγος (olígos, “few”) + ἀρχή (arkhḗ, “rule”).
Surface analysis: olig- (“few”) +‎ -archy (“rule”, “command”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈɒlɪɡɑːki/
• (US) enPR: älʹĭ-gär'kē, ōlʹĭ-gär'kē, IPA^(key): /ˈɑːlɪˌɡɑɹki/, /ˈoʊlɪˌɡɑɹki/

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oligarchy (plural oligarchies)

1. A government run by only a few, often the wealthy.
   • 2016 January 17, "Wealthy cabals run America," Al Jazeera America (retrieved 18 January 2016):

     The Itasca Project is just one example of existing oligarchy, and a surprisingly open one at that.

2. Those who make up an oligarchic government.
3. A state ruled by such a government.

• oligarch
• oligarchic
• oligarchical