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
For the past decade, Mia Mottley has steered Barbados from a former British colony that ditched the monarchy to a republic championing climate financing and debt reform for small island-states.
—
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
The deep blue of its stones refers to stability, continuity and authority—values that the Dutch monarchy has sought to project over time.
—Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Emanuele Filiberto is the grandson of Queen Marie-José, who was the last Queen of Italy as the wife of Umberto II, briefly holding the title between May and June 1946 before Italy abolished its monarchy.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Despite the closed nature of the monarchy as an institution, its subject is still animated by its involvement in the world beyond the palace walls.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for monarchy
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Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
The deep blue of its stones refers to stability, continuity and authority—values that the Dutch monarchy has sought to project over time.
—Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 13 Feb. 2026
Emanuele Filiberto is the grandson of Queen Marie-José, who was the last Queen of Italy as the wife of Umberto II, briefly holding the title between May and June 1946 before Italy abolished its monarchy.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Despite the closed nature of the monarchy as an institution, its subject is still animated by its involvement in the world beyond the palace walls.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 12 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for monarchy
Cite this Entry
“Monarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monarchy. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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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