oxford dictionaries

oli|garchy

noun (plural oligarchies)

-A small group of people having control of a country or organization: the ruling oligarchy of military men around the president

-A country governed by an oligarchy: he believed that Britain was an oligarchy

 

-[MASS NOUN] Government by an oligarchy.

Late 15th century: from Greek oligarkhia, from oligoi 'few' and arkhein 'to rule'.

[NO SYNONYMS]