plutocracy

views updated Jun 27 2018

plu·toc·ra·cy / ploōˈtäkrəsē/ • n. (pl. -cies) government by the wealthy. ∎  a country or society governed in this way. ∎  an elite or ruling class of people whose power derives from their wealth.DERIVATIVES: plu·to·crat·ic / ˌploōtəˈkratik/ adj.plu·to·crat·i·cal·ly / ˌploōtəˈkratiklē/ adv.

plutocracy

views updated May 18 2018

plutocracy XVII (thereafter not till XIX). — Gr. ploutokratíā, f. ploûtos wealth, prob. rel. ult. to FULL; see -CRACY.
Hence plutocrat XIX.