Mo*nop"o*ly (?), n.; pl. Monopolies (#). [L. monopolium, Gr. , ; 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.]
© Webster 1913.