monarch

[mon-erk, -ahrk]

noun

1. a hereditary sovereign, as a king, queen, or emperor.

2. a sole and absolute ruler of a state or nation.

3. a person or thing that holds a dominant position.

   a monarch of international shipping.

4. monarch butterfly.

monarch

/ ˈmɒnək, mɒˈnɑːkəl, mɒˈnɑːkɪəl /

noun

1. a sovereign head of state, esp a king, queen, or emperor, who rules usually by hereditary right

2. a supremely powerful or pre-eminent person or thing

3. Also called: milkweed. a large migratory butterfly, Danaus plexippus, that has orange-and-black wings and feeds on the milkweed plant: family Danaidae

Other Word Forms

• antimonarch adjective
• monarchical adjective
• monarchist noun
• monarchally adverb
• monarchistic adjective
• monarchism noun
• monarchically adverb
• monarchal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of monarch¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French monarche, monarch, from Late Latin monarcha, from Greek mónarchos “sole ruler, monarch”; mon-, -arch

Word History and Origins

Origin of monarch¹

C15: from Late Latin monarcha, from Greek; see _mono- , _-arch

Example Sentences

Also, monarch butterflies flit among the tall stands of narrow leaf milkweed, the plant their caterpillars require to survive.

From Los Angeles Times

The Royal Mint has made the circulating coinage of each of Britain's monarchs since Alfred the Great.

From BBC

A comparison to “Shogun” is as good as inevitable, given the subtitled dialogue — most of the series is performed in Hawaiian — the encounters with outsiders, the ambitious monarchs and the warring factions.

From Los Angeles Times

It is the second state visit he has been afforded - second-term US presidents are traditionally not offered state visits and have instead been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch, usually at Windsor Castle.

From BBC

Second-term presidents are usually not offered a second state visit and have instead been invited for tea or lunch with the monarch.

From BBC

Related Words

• emperor 
• king 
• queen 
• sovereign