plutocracy — government by the wealthy; a country or society governed by the wealthy
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: government by the wealthy; a country or society governed by the wealthy
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈpluːtəkræsi/
Example Sentences
- The tech billionaire joked that Silicon Valley had become a plutocracy where coding skills matter less than stock options.
- Many voters worry that campaign contributions from corporations are turning their democracy into a plutocracy.
- The satirical movie depicted a future plutocracy where politicians were literally bought and sold on eBay.
plutocracy
NOUN[/ˈpluːtəkræsi/]
government by the wealthy; a country or society governed by the wealthy
In a plutocracy, the wealthiest citizens make every decision that shapes the city.
The plutocracy was ruled by wealthy elites whose money gave them enormous political influence. (Think of the word in two parts: PLUTO → wealth / riches, -CRACY → rule / government)
The plutocracy favored wealthy elites, while the democracy gave citizens political power and the aristocracy reserved power for nobles.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From ancient Greek, combining 'ploutos' (wealth, riches) and 'kratia' (rule, power). The word literally means 'rule by the wealthy' - imagine the god of wealth controlling government decisions.
Breakdown
pluto- (wealth/riches) + -cracy (rule/government)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The tech billionaire joked that Silicon Valley had become a plutocracy where coding skills matter less than stock options.”
“Many voters worry that campaign contributions from corporations are turning their democracy into a plutocracy.”
“The satirical movie depicted a future plutocracy where politicians were literally bought and sold on eBay.”
“Social movements emerged to challenge the growing plutocracy and restore power to ordinary citizens.”
📚Related Words
Want to master 27,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.