polyarchy

noun

poly·​ar·​chy

-kē

plural -es

1

: government by many persons : control of especially political leaders by their followers compare hierarchy

2

: a group of many kingdoms

filled Europe with a colorful polyarchy of innumerable tribes

—D. C. Peattie

Word History

Etymology

Greek polyarchia, from polyarchos ruling over many (from poly- + archos ruler) + -ia -y

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