legal monopolynoun
ukusCOMMERCE, ECONOMICS[ C or U ] a situation in which a government gives the right to provide particular goods or services to one company:
a legal monopoly on/over sth The chemicals group has a legal monopoly on UK opiate production.
[ C ] a company that has the right to be the only one that provides particular goods or services within a country or area:
Railroads and airlines have been operated as legal monopolies at different periods.