# oligarchy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɒlɪˌɡɑːki/ · frequency rank #35,000

## Definitions
1. A government run by and for only a few, often the aristocracy, the wealthy, or their friends and associates.
2. A state ruled by such a government.
3. Those who make up an oligarchic government.

## Etymology
Borrowed from French oligarchie, from Late Latin oligarchia, from Ancient Greek ὀλιγαρχία (oligarkhía), from ὀλίγος (olígos, “few”) + ἀρχή (arkhḗ, “rule”).
By surface analysis, oligo- (“few”) + -archy (“rule, command”).

## Easily confused with
- **oligarch** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/oligarch-vs-oligarchy)

## Common misspellings (14)
`loigarchy`, `oilgarchy`, `olgiarchy`, `oliagrchy`, `oligacrhy`, `oligarcchy`, `oligarchhy`, `oligarchyy`, `oligarcyh`, `oligarhcy`, `oligarrchy`, `oliggarchy`, `oligrachy`, `olligarchy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/oligarchy