- 1monopoly (in/of/on something) (business) the complete control of trade in particular goods or of the supply of a particular service; a type of goods or a service that is controlled in this way The software company had a monopoly on the market. Electricity, gas, and water were considered to be natural monopolies. compare duopoly
- 2[usually singular] monopoly in/of/on something the complete control, possession, or use of something; a thing that belongs only to one person or group and that other people cannot share Managers do not have a monopoly on stress. A good education should not be the monopoly of the rich.
- 3Monopoly™ a board game in which players have to pretend to buy and sell land and houses, using pieces of paper that look like money
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