ˈmänə(r)kē, -ki sometimes -äˌnärk- or -ˌnȧk- noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English monarchie, from Middle French, from Late Latin monarchia, from Greek, from monarchēs, monarchos monarch + -ia -y — more at monarch
1. : undivided rule or absolute sovereignty by a single person
if one man be the sole landlord of a territory … his empire is absolute monarchy — James Harrington
2.
a. : a territorial unit (as a nation or state) having a monarch as chief of state
Morocco is a sovereign independent monarchy — Statesman's Year Book
b. : such a territorial unit having a monarchical government without a monarch as chief of state
officially Spain has been a monarchy without a king — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union
3.
a. : a form of government having a single usually hereditary chief of state with life tenure who may exercise governmental powers varying from nominal to absolute
the constitution of Libya provided for a hereditary monarchy — Statesman's Year Book
— compare absolute I 3, constitutional I 4, limited 2, mixed 1b
b. : a specific government or governmental institution headed by a monarch
the Russian monarchy was never so popular — Malcolm Muggeridge