Vocabulary Builder — Essay & Answer Writing
Oligarchy
noun
/ OL-i-gar-kee /
Medium
Meaning
A form of government or societal control in which power is vested in a small, elite group of people — often defined by wealth, military strength, or political connections
Origin / Etymology
Greek oligarkhia — from oligos (few) + arkhein (to rule); described ruling councils of ancient Greek city-states
Synonyms
Plutocracy
Aristocracy
Elite rule
Cabal
Antonyms
Democracy
Meritocracy
Egalitarianism
Example Sentence
"Post-Soviet Russia's transition to a market economy was captured by a small group of businessmen, giving rise to an oligarchy that controlled vast swathes of the energy sector."
🎯 UPSC Usage
Use in GS-2 (polity, governance, IR) and Essay answers on democracy and its discontents. Relevant when discussing crony capitalism, concentration of media ownership, dynastic politics, and the risk of electoral democracy becoming plutocratic rule. Also relevant to BRICS discussions on Russia and authoritarian state capitalism.
Relevant Subjects