1. relating to or characteristic of government by a small group of people

Examples

• The country’s oligarchic system concentrated power in the hands of wealthy families.
• Critics argued that the corporation had an oligarchic structure with decisions made by a few executives.
• The ancient city-state was known for its oligarchic government rather than democracy.
• Oligarchic tendencies emerged as the small council gained more influence over policy.
• The reform movement sought to replace the oligarchic regime with representative democracy.
• Many feared that wealth inequality would lead to oligarchic control of politics.