Polyarchy
/ˈpɒl.i.ɑːr.ki/noun
Government or rule by many people or many rulers.
Did you know?The first element comes from Greek poly- “many,” while -archy comes from archē “rule, power, beginning,” the same root behind words for rulers and “arch-” authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pleh₁-
“to fill, be full; many”
Ancient Greek
Greek
polys (πολύς)
“many, much”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂erǵ-
“to begin, to fit together; to lead, rule”
Ancient Greek
Greek
archē (ἀρχή)
“beginning, first place, rule, authority”
Late 19th Century
English
polyarchy
“rule by many; government by multiple persons or groups”
Modern English
English
polyarchy
“a political system in which power is distributed among many people or institutions”