ŏl'i-gärch'/y, n.

n. [Gr. ὀλιγαρχία, from ὀλίγης, few, little, and ἀρχειν, to rule, govern; Fr. oligarchie, Sp. oligarquia, It. oligarchia.] A form of government in which the supreme power is placed in the hands of a few persons.

By the great body of the clergy he was regarded as the ablest and most intrepid tribune that had ever defended their rights against the oligarchy of prelates. Macaulay.