Monopoly /(?)/

Mo·nop·o·ly

Monopoly

n.

pl. Monopolies

  1. The exclusive power, or privilege of selling a commodity; the exclusive power, right, or privilege of dealing in some article, or of trading in some market; sole command of the traffic in anything, however obtained; as, the proprietor of a patented article is given a monopoly of its sale for a limited time; chartered trading companies have sometimes had a monopoly of trade with remote regions; a combination of traders may get a monopoly of a particular product.
    Raleigh held a monopoly of cards, Essex a monopoly of sweet wines.
  2. Exclusive possession; as, a monopoly of land.
    If I had a monopoly out, they would have part on 't.
  3. The commodity or other material thing to which the monopoly relates; as, tobacco is a monopoly in France. [Colloq.]