monopoly

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English [edit]

Etymology [edit]

From Latin monopōlium, from Ancient Greek μονοπώλιον (monopōlion, a right of exclusive sale), from μόνος (monos, sole) + πωλέω (pōleō, I barter, sell).

Pronunciation [edit]

Noun [edit]

monopoly (plural monopolies)

  1. A situation, by legal privilege or other agreement, in which solely one party (company, cartel etc.) exclusively provides a particular product or service, dominating that market and generally exerting powerful control over it.
  2. An exclusive control over the trade or production of a commodity or service through exclusive possession.
    A land monopoly renders its holder(s) nearly almighty in an agricultural society
  3. The privilege granting the exclusive right to exert such control
    Granting monopolies in concession constitutes a market-conform alternative to taxation for the state, while the crown sometimes bestowed a monopoly as an outrageous gift
  4. (metonymically) The market thus controlled
  5. (metonymically) The holder (person, company or other) of such market domination in one of the the above manners.

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Antonyms [edit]

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Translations [edit]

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External links [edit]