ol‧i‧gar‧chy /ˈɒləɡɑːki, ˈɒlɪɡɑːki $ ˈɑːləɡɑːrki/ noun (plural oligarchies)
[Date: 1400-1500; Language: Greek; Origin: oligarchia, from oligos 'few' + -archia ( ⇒ -archy)]

1. [countable usually singular] a small group of people who run a country or organization, or a country that is run by a small group of people

2. [uncountable] when a country or organization is run by a small group of people:
Eventually oligarchy took over from democracy.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲