monopoly

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C1 — Advanced

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun (economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller
  2. noun exclusive control or possession of something
  3. noun a board game in which players try to gain a monopoly on real estate as pieces advance around the board according to the throw of a die

Etymology

From Latin monopōlium, from Ancient Greek μονοπώλιον (monopṓlion, “a right of exclusive sale”), from μόνος (mónos, “sole”) + πωλέω (pōléō, “to barter, sell”). By surface analysis, mono- + -poly.

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