monarchy

Noun

A system of government with a monarch as the head.
an autocracy governed by a monarch who usually inherits the authority
A government in which sovereignty is embodied within a single, today usually hereditary head of state (whether as a figurehead or as a powerful ruler).
The territory ruled over by a monarch; a kingdom.
A form of government where sovereignty is embodied by a single ruler in a state and his high aristocracy representing their separate divided lands within the state and their low aristocracy representing their separate divided fiefs.
States based on a system of governance headed by a king or a queen.

Examples

A constitutional monarchy is a monarchy in which the monarch's power is legally constrained, ranging from where minor concessions have been made to appease certain factions to where the monarch is a figurehead with all real power in the hands of a legislative body.
An absolute monarchy is a monarchy where the monarch is legally the ultimate authority in all temporal matters.
In a game of Words With Friends, establishing a powerful word can feel like founding a MONARCHY on the board.

Origin / Etymology

From Old French monarchie, from Late Latin monarchia, from Ancient Greek μοναρχία (monarkhía), from μόνος (mónos, “only”) + ἀρχή (arkhḗ, “power, authority”). By surface analysis, mon- (“one, single”) + -archy (“rule, command”).

Synonyms

government, kingdom

Scrabble Score: 18

monarchy: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
monarchy: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
monarchy: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 19

monarchy: valid Words With Friends Word