Oligocracy

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A governing system where authority is held by a select group, limiting broader participation and influence in political decisions
2. A political arrangement marked by power being concentrated in the hands of a small elite, reducing public engagement in governance
3. A form of governance characterized by control exerted by a limited number of individuals or groups, which restricts the involvement of the general populace in decision-making processes

Etymology: "Oligocracy" is a plain compound built from two Greek elements: "oligos," meaning "few" or "small," and "-kratia," meaning "rule" or "power," the same root that gives "democracy" and "aristocracy." Put together, the literal sense is "rule by the few," and the word sits in the family of political terms formed by attaching "-cracy" to a Greek prefix that describes who holds power. The "oligo-" element is also familiar from scientific vocabulary, where it appears in words like "oligopoly," meaning control of a market by a small number of sellers, and "oligarchy," a close relative of this term. The shared prefix makes it easy to see how the word sounds like a variant of "oligarchy" but was formed by the same pattern as "democracy," producing a label for rule by a small group.

Synonyms: oligarchy