monopoly — the exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service
Pronunciation (IPA): /məˈnɑːpəli/
Example Sentences
- My grandmother thinks she has a monopoly on the TV remote control.
- The tech giant's monopoly was challenged by new startup companies.
- He seems to have a monopoly on bad jokes at family gatherings.
monopoly
NOUN[/məˈnɑːpəli/]
the exclusive possession or control of the supply of or trade in a commodity or service
One giant company holds a total monopoly over the entire city's coffee supply.
His monopoly policy killed the jolly!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word originates from ancient Greek, combining 'mono' (one, single) and 'polein' (to sell). It originally referred to the exclusive right to sell a particular commodity, literally meaning 'sole seller' or 'selling alone'.
Breakdown
mono- (one, single) + -polein (to sell) = monopolium (exclusive sale right). The term was later Latinized to 'monopolium' before entering English as 'monopoly'.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandmother thinks she has a monopoly on the TV remote control.”
“The tech giant's monopoly was challenged by new startup companies.”
“He seems to have a monopoly on bad jokes at family gatherings.”
“The government decided to regulate the company's monopoly in the telecommunications sector.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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