oligarch
/ˈɒl.ɪˌɡɑːrk/
noun
Origin
Ancient Greek
oligarkhēs — ruling by a few
Overview
Meaning Now
- A ruler who is a member of an oligarchy, a small group of people who together govern a country or organization.
- A very rich business leader with a great deal of political influence, especially in post-Soviet states.
Literal older meaning
ruler of a few
Language path
Ancient Greek → French → English
Earliest form
oligarch
Earliest period
16th century
Journey
The term originates from the Aristotelian classification of government forms. Aristotle contrasted 'oligarchy' (the rule of the wealthy few) with 'aristocracy' (the rule of the best). In modern usage, it is often applied to wealthy figures in transitioning economies who leverage financial power to shape state policy.
Evolution
- Ancient Greek
oligarkhēs
“ruling by a few”
- Late Latin
oligarchia
“government by a few”
Transition through political philosophy texts.
- 16th-century English
oligarch
“member of a small ruling group”
Adoption as a political science term.
Connections
Word parts
olig-
root
few
-arch
root
ruler or leader
Related across languages
French
oligarque
oligarch
German
oligarch
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Related to oligarch
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.