If a company, person, or state has a monopolyon something such as an industry, they have complete control over it, so that it is impossible for others to become involved in it.
[business]
...Russian moves to end a state monopoly on land ownership. [+ on]
...the governing party's monopoly over the media. [+ over]
...an inquiry by the Monopolies Commission.
2. countable noun
A monopoly is a company which is the only one providing a particular product or service.
[business]
...a state-owned monopoly.
3. singular noun
If you say that someone does not have a monopolyon something, you mean that they are not the only person who has that thing.
Women do not have a monopoly on feelings of betrayal. [+ on]
monopoly in British English
(məˈnɒpəlɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-lies
1.
exclusive control of the market supply of a product or service
2.
a.
an enterprise exercising this control
b.
the product or service so controlled
3. law
the exclusive right or privilege granted to a person, company, etc, by the state to purchase, manufacture, use, or sell some commodity or to carry on trade in a specified country or area
4.
exclusive control, possession, or use of something
Derived forms
monopolism (moˈnopolism)
noun
monopolist (moˈnopolist)
noun
monopolistic (moˌnopoˈlistic)
adjective
monopolistically (moˌnopoˈlistically)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Late Latin, from Greek monopōlion, from mono- + pōlein to sell
Monopoly in British English
(məˈnɒpəlɪ)
noun
trademark
a board game for two to six players who throw dice to advance their tokens around a board, the object being to acquire the property on which their tokens land
monopoly in American English
(məˈnɑpəli)
nounWord forms: pluralmoˈnopolies
1.
exclusive control of a commodity or service in a given market, or control that makespossible the fixing of prices and the virtual elimination of free competition
2.
an exclusive privilege of engaging in a particular business or providing a service, granted by a ruler or by the state
3.
exclusive possession or control of something
4.
something that is held or controlled as a monopoly
5.
a company or combination that has a monopoly
US; [M-] trademark
6.
a game played on a special board by two or more players: they move according to the throw of dice, engaging in mock real estate transactions with play money
SYNONYMY NOTE: monopoly applies to the exclusive control of a commodity, etc., as defined above; a , trust is a combination of corporations, organized for the purpose of gaining a monopoly,in which stock is turned over to trustees who issue stock certificates to the stockholders:trusts are now illegal in the U.S.; , cartel, the European term for a trust, now usually implies an international trust; a , syndicate is now usually a group of bankers, corporations, etc. organized to buy large blocksof securities, afterward selling them in small parcels to the public at a profit;a , corner is a temporary speculative monopoly of some stock or commodity for the purpose ofraising the price
Word origin
L monopolium < Gr monopōlion, right of exclusive sale, monopōlia, exclusive sale < monos, single (see mono-) + pōlein, to sell < IE base *pel- > Lith penas, wages
Examples of 'monopoly' in a sentence
monopoly
Before this it was the visitors who had a virtual monopoly of the early opportunities.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Guy Shone said more companies with near monopolies will try to cash in.
The Sun (2016)
This adulation may weaken, but with his virtual monopoly of the media it is unlikely to do so quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It also effectively gave certified doctors monopoly control over medical practice.
Appelbaum, Richard P. Sociology (1995)
This intellectual monopoly has ended up not just crushing the competition but also destroying itself from within.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Public monopoly services by contrast often exist primarily to serve the interests of their staff.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In mitigation they did have a virtual monopoly on opportunities.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is quite wrong to think that superstars have an exclusive monopoly on great sport.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Protected media monopolies can become arms of government.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We also invest in telecoms and post offices and we like companies that have a monopoly in their area.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The monopoly on the use of force that should rest with the police now rests with the criminals and this has to change.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The former government-owned monopoly has been fending off the separation of its phone and internet arms for years.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If it does, more small companies are likely to take on the regional monopolies enjoyed by the big companies.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Europe's gas and power monopolies.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Policing is a monopoly service.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It remained divided into the senior and other branches, with the senior branch enjoying a virtual monopoly of political and diplomatic work.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In a monopoly industry I do not think that is how we should continue to see pricing done.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But in 2002 China ended his monopoly and invited in the global players.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The merchants were adopting the only practical approach when they insisted that abolition of the Company 's monopoly must precede any further discovery voyages.
Glyn Williams VOYAGES OF DELUSION: The Search for the North West Passage in the Age of Reason (2002)
In other languages
monopoly
British English: monopoly /məˈnɒpəlɪ/ NOUN
If a company, person, or state has a monopoly on something such as an industry, they have complete control over it.
The cable company had a monopoly on communications on the island.