monopoly

mo|nop|o|ly [məˈnɔpəli US məˈna:-] n plural monopolies

[Date: 1500-1600; : Latin; Origin: monopolium, from Greek, from mono- ( MONO-) + polein 'to sell']

1.)

if a company or government has a monopoly of a business or political activity, it has complete control of it so that other organizations cannot compete with it

monopoly of

▪ They are demanding an end to the Communist Party's monopoly of power .

▪ the state monopoly of television

monopoly on/in

▪ For years Bell Telephone had a monopoly on telephone services in the US.

▪ a monopoly in copper trading

2.)

a large company that controls all or most of a business activity

▪ The company will become a state-owned monopoly.

3.) [singular]

if someone has a monopoly on something, that thing belongs to them, and no one else can share it

▪ Teachers do not have a monopoly on educational debate.