Monarchist

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A supporter of a governmental system where a single hereditary ruler possesses authority advocates for royal leadership over democratic structures
2. An individual who promotes the establishment of a monarchy seeks to maintain royal power in contrast to popular sovereignty
3. A person who favors a form of governance led by a hereditary sovereign champions the idea of monarchy over republican or democratic systems

Etymology: "Monarchist" is a plain construction: "monarchy" with the agent suffix "-ist", which marks a person who holds or supports a given doctrine or system. The base, "monarchy", comes from Greek "monarkhia", literally "rule by one", built from "monos" (alone, single) and "arkhein" (to rule). The suffix "-ist" tacks onto that base to name someone devoted to the idea, so a monarchist is, in effect, a person who champions rule by a single sovereign. The word was borrowed into English from French "monarchiste", which in turn formed the same way from French "monarchie". The English term follows the pattern of many political labels built on "-ist" in the same period, such as "republican" tied to republic. Its sense has stayed close to its original one: it names someone who backs monarchical government over the alternative of power resting with the people.

Synonyms: royalist, king's supporter

Antonyms: republican, democrat