different between aristocracy vs oligarch

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French aristocratie, from Medieval Latin *aristocratia, from Ancient Greek ???????????? (aristokratí?, “the rule of the best“, that is, “the best-born”, “nobility”), from ??????? (áristos, “best, noblest”) + -?????? (-kratí?), from ?????? (krátos, “power, rule”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?æ.???st?k.??.si/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /???.??st?k.??.si/
• Hyphenation: a?ris?to?cra?cy

Noun

aristocracy (countable and uncountable, plural aristocracies)

1. The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class.
2. Government by such a class, or a state with such a government
3. A class of people considered (not normally universally) superior to others

Derived terms

• bunyip aristocracy

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• aristocracy in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• aristocracy in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ????????? (oligárkh?s).
Surface analysis: olig- (“few”) +? -arch (“ruler, leader”)

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /?o?l?????k/, /??l?????k/

Noun

oligarch (plural oligarchs)

1. A member of an oligarchy; someone who is part of a small group that runs a country.
2. (especially Russia, USA, Europe, or China) A very rich person, particularly with political power; a plutocrat.

   Synonyms: plutocrat, tycoonocrat

3. (cosmogony) A protoplanet formed during oligarchic accretion.

Related terms

• oligarchal
• oligarchic
• oligarchical
• oligarchy

Translations

Further reading

• oligarch on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Dutch

Etymology

Ultimately from Ancient Greek ????????? (oligárkh?s). This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?o?.li???rx/
• Hyphenation: oli?garch
• Rhymes: -?rx

Noun

oligarch m (plural oligarchen, diminutive oligarchje n)

1. An oligarch (member of an oligarchy). [from late 18th c.]
2. A plutocrat, an oligarch, especially in relation to the former Eastern Bloc. [from late 20th c.]

   Synonym: plutocraat

Related terms

• oligarchie
• oligarchisch