1
as in monarchism
a system of government in which there is only one ruler whose power is unlimited
Under a monarchy, the position of ruler is often passed down from parent to child.
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2
as in democracy
a group of people who live in a territory ruled by a single person
The country was formerly a monarchy, but has now transitioned to a republic.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of monarchy
Earlier, King Philippe's grandfather, King Leopold III, also abdicated in 1951 amid a political crisis to safeguard the monarchy.
—
Staff Author, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
The Queen is Dead’s title track might not have upset the monarchy quite as much as the Sex Pistols had nearly a decade earlier.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 20 Apr. 2026
Will they be allowed to continue to represent the monarchy?
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Apr. 2026
Gerontocracy has always thrived in undemocratic places—Communist people’s republics, Gulf monarchies—where only death could pry power from the ruling elders.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for monarchy
Staff Author, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
The Queen is Dead’s title track might not have upset the monarchy quite as much as the Sex Pistols had nearly a decade earlier.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 20 Apr. 2026
Will they be allowed to continue to represent the monarchy?
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 14 Apr. 2026
Gerontocracy has always thrived in undemocratic places—Communist people’s republics, Gulf monarchies—where only death could pry power from the ruling elders.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for monarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for monarchy
Noun
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But for anyone outside the British elite, the constitutional monarchism that emerged after the civil wars did not look much like democracy or true liberty.—
Andrew Cockburn,
Harper's Magazine,
20 Aug. 2024
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And the Decemberists tried to overthrow the Tsar and insist on having some of the more basic aspects of representative constitutional monarchism introduced into Russia.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Dec. 2022
Noun
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In Qalqilya, a city where no slates registered to participate at all, Marwan Ennabi said elections didn't reflect that Palestinian democracy was thriving or capable of changing the deteriorating conditions on the ground.—
SAM METZ,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
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Our democracy works best when voters choose their representatives — not the other way around.—
Allyson Meyers,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Gerrymandering as a practice goes back to the beginnings of the republic—the term comes from maps drawn under Governor Elbridge Gerry in 1812.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
22 Apr. 2026
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The question of a central bank’s role and responsibility in our republic dates to America’s founding.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Anti-dictatorship, but for kids Serkis scrubs the story of its violence, at least in any graphic manner.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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In a nation that has long prided itself on a free and vibrant news media, rights watchdogs and lawmakers from across the political spectrum denounced the move as an attack on the press without precedent since the end of Argentina’s military dictatorship in 1983.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The sovereign's sceptre with cross The sovereign's sceptre with cross dates back to 1661, when it was first used at the coronation of King Charles II.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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Legitimate authority Historically, the conversation about a war’s justness began by asking whether a responsible sovereign had declared it.—
Valerie Morkevicius,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Consider going out to look for special furniture or items that could transform your home into even more of a kingdom.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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The deal is expected to include promoting music events held in the kingdom to global audiences, and may also cover sports tournaments hosted in the country.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The commonwealth’s decision to draw a new map comes after Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and North Carolina enacted new maps to add Republican seats, while California and Utah enacted new maps adding Democratic seats.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Apr. 2026
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Democrats’ narrower-than-expected but still-decisive win in Tuesday’s plebiscite undoing the commonwealth’s own truce may or may not be the end of it.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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By March, Ukraine had dispatched more than two hundred military experts to help Persian Gulf nations defend against Iranian drone attacks.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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News round-up FIFA plans to increase prize money and participation fees for the 48 competing nations at the World Cup.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Monarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/monarchy. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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