Monopoly is most often used to mean exclusivelimited to one person, group, or purpose; not shared with others controlthe power to direct, manage, or influence something over something, especially in business or trade. It can also refer to a marketthe area or system where buyers and sellers trade goods or services with only one seller, and it is the name of a popular board game.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /məˈnɑpəli/
Easy pronunciation: muh-NAH-puh-lee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress on the second syllable.
Used for the sense of exclusive control or possession of something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Monopoly Meaning
the only control or ownership of something
Part of speech: noun
Definition: exclusive control or possession of something
Example: They have no monopoly on intelligence.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- exclusive control — A close match for the main sense of having sole control.
- exclusive possession — Works well when the focus is on owning or holding something alone.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Monopoly
Meaning 2
a market with just one seller
Part of speech: noun
Definition: (economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller
Example: The company had a monopoly on silver.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- exclusive control — Can fit the economic sense when one company controls the whole market, but it is broader than the technical term.
Meaning 3
a game where players buy property and try to win by controlling the board
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a board game in which players try to gain a monopoly on real estate as pieces advance around the board according to the throw of a die
Example: We played Monopoly after dinner.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Monopoly Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- exclusive control
- exclusive possession
economic situation with only one seller
- exclusive control
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not use monopoly to mean any monopoly-like advantage; it specifically involves sole control, or in economics, one seller in a market.
- The board game Monopoly is a proper noun and should be capitalized.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does monopoly mean in simple English?
A monopoly is when one person, company, or group has the only control over something, or when one seller dominates a market.
What is a monopoly in business?
In business, a monopoly is a market situation where only one seller supplies a product or service.
What are good synonyms for monopoly?
For the main sense, good synonyms include exclusive control and exclusive possession, depending on the context.
Is Monopoly a common noun or a proper noun?
When talking about the board game, Monopoly is a proper noun and is capitalized. In the general sense, monopoly is a common noun.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-16. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.