polyarchicadj.
/ˌpɒlɪˈɑːkɪk/, U.S. /ˌpɑliˈɑrkɪk/ Politics.
= polyarchical adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > a or the system of government > government by specific number of rulers > [adjective] > relating to government by many
polarchical1647
polyarchical1653
polyarchic1892
polycratic1956
1892 G. Gissing Born in Exile II. iv. i. 164 He could admit that such men as Runcorn and Kenyon—the one with his polyarchic commercialism, the other with his demagogic violence—had possibly a useful part to play.
1970 R. A. H. Robinson Origins of Franco's Spain 22 Society was ‘polyarchic’, being composed of a series of ‘intermediate republics’ (guild, municipality, region) between the ‘monarchies’ of the State and family.
1991 W. L. Miller Media & Voters (BNC) 218 The combination of a polyarchic press putting forward a multitude of rival viewpoints and an impartial, balanced broadcasting monopoly.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1892