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What is the difference between aristocracy and oligarchy?

aristocracy | oligarchy |

As nouns the difference between aristocracy and oligarchy

is that aristocracy is the nobility, or the hereditary ruling class while oligarchy is a government run by only a few, often the wealthy.

aristocracy

English

(wikipedia aristocracy)

Noun

(aristocracies)
  • The nobility, or the hereditary ruling class
  • Government by such a class, or a state with such a government
  • A class of people considered (not normally universally) superior to others

    • Derived terms

    * bunyip aristocracy

    Related terms

    () * aristocrat * aristocratic

    External links

    * * English words suffixed with -cracy

    oligarchy

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia oligarchy) (oligarchies)
  • A government run by only a few, often the wealthy.
  • Those who make up an oligarchic government.
  • A state ruled by such a government.

    • Related terms

    * oligarch * oligarchic * oligarchical