🇬🇧🇨🇳 oligarchy - 寡头政治 : English Lesson

Meaning of "oligarchy" ("寡头政治"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

An oligarchy is when power is in the hands of just a few people, usually the richest, smartest, or sneakiest ones. Instead of everyone having a say, a small group makes all the decisions—kind of like when a few kids on the playground decide the rules of the game, and nobody else gets a turn to change them.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

The class president and his four best friends formed an oligarchy—now we all have to wear sunglasses on Tuesdays.

The lunch ladies have an oligarchy over the school cafeteria—they alone decide if we get extra fries.

The chocolate chip cookie club is an oligarchy—only the tallest kids can reach the cookie jar.

The squirrels in my backyard have an oligarchy—the biggest ones gets all the acorns, and the others just stare.

My older sisters run our house like an oligarchy—they make the rules, and I just follow them.

The village lived under an oligarchy. Three elders sat on a raised bench; the oligarchy kept the gate key and the last loaves. When rain filled the square, people whispered "oligarchy" and pushed. A child slipped the key from the oligarchy's pocket. The oligarchy stared as the gate opened and the crowd cheered.

This word is at the C2 level, which means it represents the highest mastery of English. It’s often used in specialized or highly formal contexts and helps you communicate with precision and subtlety, much like a native speaker.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.