oligarchic

adjective

ol·​i·​gar·​chic ˌä-lə-ˈgär-kik 

ˌō-

variants or oligarchical

ˌä-lə-ˈgär-ki-kəl 

ˌō-

: of, relating to, or based on an oligarchy

Examples of oligarchic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And they are both governed by personalistic authoritarian leaders with the support of an oligarchic elite largely insulated from oversight. —Maria Snegovaya, Foreign Affairs, 25 Nov. 2024

So the most militantly ultra-nationalist faction, heroes of war, impossible to stand against politically, became the most corruptly oligarchic and sold out to Russia. —Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

The Putin regime is imperialist and oligarchic, dependent for its existence on propaganda that claims that all the world is ever such. —Timothy Snyder, Foreign Affairs, 6 Sep. 2022

That may have deeper consequences at a time when Fico’s opponents are warning of his efforts to tighten his grip on power and undermine checks and balances in the furtherance of his interests and those of a set of oligarchic allies. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, Medieval Latin & Greek; French oligarchique, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Medieval Latin oligarchicus, borrowed from Greek oligarchikós, from oligarchía oligarchy + -ikos -ic entry 1

First Known Use

1586, in the meaning defined above