Also ‑arch.
Government; rule of a particular type; a chief or ruler.
Greek arkhēs, ruler; arkhein, to rule.
Words in ‑archy are abstract nouns for types of government, leadership, or social influence or organization. They correspond to nouns in ‑arch for a person or people who rule or command in that way. For example, a monarch (Greek monos, alone or single) is a sovereign head of state, in a type of government called monarchy.
The ending is somewhat active, with terms being created for occasional use or wordplay, such as cupidarchy, a state built on cupidity, or ergonarchy (Greek ergon, work), one ruled by the work ethic.
For more examples, See also ‑cracy.
Examples of words in -archy
All word sources are Greek unless otherwise stated.
anarchy
a state of disorder due to absence or non-recognition of authority, or absence of government and absolute freedom of the individual, regarded as a political ideal
an‑, without
autarchy
a system of government by one person with absolute power
autos, self
eparchy
a province of the Orthodox Church
epi, above, so ‘rule from above’
hierarchy
a system of authority in which members are ranked according to status
from hieros, sacred, since the earliest sense was that of a system of orders of angels and heavenly beings
matriarchy
a system of society or government ruled by a woman or women
Latin mater, mother, on a mistaken analogy with patriarchy
monarchy
a state with a sovereign head of state, especially a king, queen, or emperor
monos, alone or single
oligarchy
a small group of people having control of a country, organization, or institution; a place or body so ruled
oligoi, few
patriarchy
government by the father or eldest male
patria, family
squirearchy
landowners collectively, especially when considered as a class having political or social influence
English squire
synarchy
joint rule or government by two or more individuals or parties
sun‑, together
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