oligarch

noun

ol·​i·​garch ˈä-lə-ˌgärk  ˈō- 

plural oligarchs

1

: a member or supporter of an oligarchy

2

in Russia and other countries that succeeded the Soviet Union : one of a class of individuals who through private acquisition of state assets amassed great wealth that is stored especially in foreign accounts and properties and who typically maintain close links to the highest government circles

But what does it really mean to be a Russian oligarch …? … in Russian politics, the term first came about in the 1990s to describe a dozen or so powerful men who amassed immense wealth following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

—The Business Insider

The task force will pool the resources of the countries' law enforcement divisions to track down the assets of Russian oligarchs stashed overseas, a difficult task complicated by the opaque or complicated financial instruments frequently used by Russian financial elites to hide their holdings from public view.

—Jeff Stein

… young Armenians, who joined the protests in droves, angry that the same small club of politicians and oligarchs has controlled the country since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

—Neil Macfarquhar

Examples of oligarch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2022, the invasion of Ukraine, combined with rule of law deficiencies, the prosecution of oligarchs, and sometimes violent property disputes, caused a record $239 billion (13 percent of GDP) to flee the country. —Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024

Russian oligarchs and weapons dealers shuttle tether abroad to buy property and pay suppliers for sanctioned goods. ... —Brady Dale, Axios, 12 Sep. 2024

The movie concerns Madison’s title character, a strip-club dancer and sometime escort, who impulsively marries her client, the goofy dissolute son of a Russian oligarch. —Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Sep. 2024

In the film, a member of the local Georgian community is murdered, mistaken for his boss, a Russian oligarch. —Callum McLennan, Variety, 11 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Greek oligárchēs, from olig- olig- + -archēs -arch entry 1, after Greek oligarcheîsthai "to be ruled by an oligarchy," oligarchía oligarchy

First Known Use

circa 1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1