plutocracy
UK /pluːˈtɒkɹəsi/ · US /pluːˈtɑːkɹəsi/ noun
Forms plutocracies plousiocracy ploutocracy
- noun Government by the wealthy.
- noun A controlling class of the wealthy.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Ancient Greek πλουτοκρατία (ploutokratía, “rule of the wealthy”), from πλουτοκρατέω (ploutokratéō, “I rule through wealth”), from πλοῦτος (ploûtos, “wealth”) + κρατέω (kratéō, “I rule”) (from κράτος (krátos, “power”, “might”)).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A form of government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of the wealthy classes; government by the rich; also, a controlling or influential class of rich men.
Etymology [Gr. plutocratie.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “plutocracy”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details