Mo*nop"o*ly (?), n.;
pl. Monopolies (#). [L.
monopolium, Gr. &?;, &?;; mo`nos alone + &?; to sell.]
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.
Macaulay. 2. Exclusive possession;
as, a monopoly of land.
If I had a monopoly out, they would have part on
't.
Shak. 3.
The commodity or other material thing to which the
monopoly relates; as, tobacco is a
monopoly in
France. [Colloq.]
Hear it pronounced