noun · academic
oligarchy
UK/ˈɒlɪɡɑːki/US/ˈɑːləɡɑrki/OL·i·gar·chy
a system of government in which a small group of people hold power and control
Examples
“Critics claim the country is run by an oligarchy of wealthy businessmen.”
“Policy decisions often reflected the interests of the oligarchy rather than the majority.”
“In an oligarchy, political influence is concentrated in the hands of a few.”
Band 8 sentence
“Political scientists argue that when policy is driven primarily by private wealth, a formal democracy can still operate like an oligarchy.”
Collocations
- ruling oligarchy
- oligarchic interests
Word family
Common mistakes
The country is ruled by small oligarchies.→The country is ruled by an oligarchy.
He is an oligarchy leader.→He is an oligarch.
Say it for a higher band
5rule by a few→6plutocracy→7+oligarchy
Synonyms
plutocracy
Easily confused
plutocracy
“Many commentators argue that modern governance has elements of a plutocracy.”
Related words
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In Society & Government
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