monarchy
noun
mon·ar·chy
ˈmä-nər-kē 
also -ˌnär-
plural monarchies
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
She is remembered for her steadfast poise and dedication to duty throughout her record 70-year reign that spanned 15 prime ministers, shepherding the modern monarchy into a changing 21st century.
—
Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
Afterward, Kate settled into her role as the Duchess of Cambridge, accompanying her husband on royal tours and playing an increasingly active role within the monarchy.
—Issy Ronald, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
The former Kate Middleton, who married William in a fairy-tale wedding in 2011, has boosted the popularity and appeal of the British monarchy worldwide more than any royal since Princess Diana.
—arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2024
In Elizabethan England, some Catholics, many of whom were priests, were put to death as their religion was seen as treasonous to the monarchy, which presided over the protestant Church of England.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
The Fine Print • An autocrat rules with absolute power by legitimate means, often within a long-standing or established political system such as a monarchy.
—Hazlitt, 10 Apr. 2024
These dire predictions about the monarchy’s imminent collapse came from pundits and pretty much everyone one else in the world who thought that the people around Kate Middleton, including her husband and palace aides, had badly handled global concerns about her health and whereabouts.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
At the same time, MBS has pushed through the most radical remake of the country since the Saud dynasty founded its absolute monarchy in the 1930s—including outward liberalization in what had long been one of the world’s most religiously conservative countries.
—Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
While Buckingham Palace is synonymous with the British royals and serves as the hub of the monarchy’s operations, King Charles and Queen Camilla don’t actually live there!
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2024
Afterward, Kate settled into her role as the Duchess of Cambridge, accompanying her husband on royal tours and playing an increasingly active role within the monarchy.
—Issy Ronald, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
The former Kate Middleton, who married William in a fairy-tale wedding in 2011, has boosted the popularity and appeal of the British monarchy worldwide more than any royal since Princess Diana.
—arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2024
In Elizabethan England, some Catholics, many of whom were priests, were put to death as their religion was seen as treasonous to the monarchy, which presided over the protestant Church of England.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024
The Fine Print • An autocrat rules with absolute power by legitimate means, often within a long-standing or established political system such as a monarchy.
—Hazlitt, 10 Apr. 2024
These dire predictions about the monarchy’s imminent collapse came from pundits and pretty much everyone one else in the world who thought that the people around Kate Middleton, including her husband and palace aides, had badly handled global concerns about her health and whereabouts.
—Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
At the same time, MBS has pushed through the most radical remake of the country since the Saud dynasty founded its absolute monarchy in the 1930s—including outward liberalization in what had long been one of the world’s most religiously conservative countries.
—Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2024
While Buckingham Palace is synonymous with the British royals and serves as the hub of the monarchy’s operations, King Charles and Queen Camilla don’t actually live there!
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'monarchy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Dictionary Entries Near monarchy
Cite this Entry
“Monarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarchy. Accessed 27 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
monarchy
noun
mon·ar·chy
ˈmän-ər-kē
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
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