Definition of: monarchy

(mon′ər·kē) noun plural ·chies
1. Government by a monarch; sovereign control.
2. A government or territory ruled by a monarch.
—absolute monarchy A government in which the will of the monarch is positive law; a despotism.
—constitutional or limited monarchy A monarchy in which the power and prerogative of the sovereign are limited by constitutional provisions. [<LL monarchia <Gk.]