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.

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.]

• A situation in which only one company provides a particular product or service, dominating that market and generally exerting powerful control over it.
  
• A company dominating a market in the above manner.
  

• A board game in which players use play money to buy and trade properties, with the objective of forcing opponents into bankruptcy.