Word

plutocracy

noun C1

UK /pluːˈtɒkɹəsi/

US /pluːˈtɑːkɹəsi/

Meanings

noun

a society or government controlled mainly by wealthy people

Definition

A plutocracy is a society or government controlled mainly by very wealthy people.

A plutocracy is a system in which political power is held by the rich rather than by the wider public. The term is often used critically to suggest that wealth strongly shapes decisions, laws, and access to influence. It can describe a formal structure of rule or, more commonly, a situation where money effectively determines who has power.

Examples

Many critics argue that the country has drifted toward a plutocracy, as major policy choices increasingly mirror elite interests.
In her essay, she describes the new capital as a plutocracy where social access depends on invitations, donors, and private networks.
I worry that unchecked lobbying can turn any democracy into a plutocracy without changing a single constitutional rule.
They rejected the claim of plutocracy, insisting that the election results—not wealth—ultimately decide who governs.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse plutocracy with democracy, but plutocracy specifically means rule by the wealthy, not rule by the people.