oligopoly
noun
ol·i·gop·o·ly
ˌä-lə-ˈgä-pə-lē 
ˌō-
: a market situation in which each of a few producers affects but does not control the market
Examples of oligopoly in a Sentence
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Cardinal Health operates in an industry that is effectively an oligopoly dominated by three players — the other two are McKesson and Cencora .
—
Jeff Marks, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
By traditional metrics of these things, monopoly, oligopoly, there’s definitely a very high bar.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
Some have targeted oligopolies or a high degree of market concentration in which a few players dominate.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Most of them blamed larger structural issues in the U.S. economy – oligopolies, corporate greed, excessive money supply – for the rising cost of living.
—Julia Harte, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
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Jeff Marks, CNBC, 27 Feb. 2026
By traditional metrics of these things, monopoly, oligopoly, there’s definitely a very high bar.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 21 Feb. 2026
Some have targeted oligopolies or a high degree of market concentration in which a few players dominate.
—Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Most of them blamed larger structural issues in the U.S. economy – oligopolies, corporate greed, excessive money supply – for the rising cost of living.
—Julia Harte, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oligopoly
Cite this Entry
“Oligopoly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oligopoly. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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oligopoly
noun
ol·i·gop·o·ly
ˌä-li-ˈgä-pə-lē, ˌō-
plural oligopolies
: a condition in which a few sellers dominate a particular market to the detriment of competition by others
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