plutocracy

  • 1Plutocracy — is rule by the wealthy, or power provided by wealth. In a plutocracy, the degree of economic inequality is high while the level of social mobility is low. This can apply to a multitude of government systems, as the key elements of plutocracy… …

    Wikipedia

  • 2Plutocracy — Plu*toc ra*cy, n. [Gr. ?; ? wealth + ? to be strong, to rule, fr.? strength: cf. F. plutocratie.] A form of government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of the wealthy classes; government by the rich; also, a controlling or… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3plutocracy — n. Government by the wealthy; a group of wealthy people who control the government. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008 …

    Law dictionary

  • 4plutocracy — (n.) 1650s, from Gk. ploutokratia rule or power of the wealthy or of wealth, from ploutos wealth (see PLUTO (Cf. Pluto)) + kratia rule, from kratos rule, power …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 5plutocracy — *oligarchy, aristocracy …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 6plutocracy — ► NOUN (pl. plutocracies) 1) government by the wealthy. 2) a society governed by the wealthy. 3) an elite or ruling class whose power derives from their wealth. DERIVATIVES plutocratic adjective. ORIGIN from Greek ploutos wealth + krat …

    English terms dictionary

  • 7plutocracy — [plo͞o täk′rə sē] n. pl. plutocracies [Gr ploutokratia < ploutos, wealth, akin to plein, to float, swim (< IE base * pel > FULL1) + kratein, to rule] 1. government by the wealthy 2. a group of wealthy people who control or influence a… …

    English World dictionary

  • 8plutocracy — [[t]pluːtɒ̱krəsi[/t]] plutocracies N COUNT A plutocracy is a country which is ruled by its wealthiest people, or a class of wealthy people who rule a country. [FORMAL] Financial, not moral, considerations will prevail in a plutocracy …

    English dictionary

  • 9plutocracy — UK [pluːˈtɒkrəsɪ] / US [pluˈtɑkrəsɪ] noun Word forms plutocracy : singular plutocracy plural plutocracies [countable] a country governed by a group of rich people a) [countable] a group of rich people who govern a country b) [uncountable] the… …

    English dictionary

  • 10plutocracy — noun (plural cies) Etymology: Greek ploutokratia, from ploutos wealth; akin to Greek plein to sail, float more at flow Date: 1652 1. government by the wealthy 2. a controlling class of the wealthy • plutocrat noun • plutocratic adjective …

    New Collegiate Dictionary