— monopoloid , adj.
/meuh nop"euh lee/ , n. , pl. monopolies .
1. exclusive control of a commodity or service in a particular market, or a control that makes possible the manipulation of prices. Cf. duopoly, oligopoly .
2. an exclusive privilege to carry on a business, traffic, or service, granted by a government.
3. the exclusive possession or control of something.
4. something that is the subject of such control, as a commodity or service.
5. a company or group that has such control.
6. the market condition that exists when there is only one seller.
7. ( cap. ) a board game in which a player attempts to gain a monopoly of real estate by advancing around the board and purchasing property, acquiring capital by collecting rent from other players whose pieces land on that property.
[ 1525-35; monopolium monopólion right of exclusive sale, equiv. to mono- MONO- + pol ( eîn ) to sell + -ion n. suffix ]