oligopoly

noun

ol·​i·​gop·​o·​ly ˌä-lə-ˈgä-pə-lē How to pronounce oligopoly (audio)
ˌō-
: a market situation in which each of a few producers affects but does not control the market
oligopolist noun
oligopolistic adjective

Examples of oligopoly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With their oligopoly over, there should be more opportunities for the latest batch of promising youngsters — unless Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner prove to be similarly dominant. Charlie Eccleshare, The Athletic, 21 Aug. 2024 Some markets move from nascent to commodity or oligopoly almost overnight, such as consumer or end-user GenAI. Mark Tauschek, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 In many cases, these new approaches are uprooting decades-long healthcare oligopolies, payment structures and disparities in care. Seth Joseph, Forbes, 31 Oct. 2024 What the United States and other countries around the world need instead are policies that encourage private competition by supporting young people and startups rather than protecting aging incumbents—the oligopolies, billionaires, and tycoons who now dominate the American system. Ruchir Sharma, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for oligopoly 

Word History

Etymology

olig- + -poly (as in monopoly)

First Known Use

1895, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oligopoly was in 1895

Dictionary Entries Near oligopoly

Cite this Entry

“Oligopoly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oligopoly. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Legal Definition

oligopoly

noun
ol·​i·​gop·​o·​ly ˌä-li-ˈgä-pə-lē, ˌō- How to pronounce oligopoly (audio)
plural oligopolies
: a condition in which a few sellers dominate a particular market to the detriment of competition by others

More from Merriam-Webster on oligopoly

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