monopoly

Everyday

1. Complete control of a product or service by one company or person, so that nobody else sells it. tree →
2. (Monopoly) A board game where players buy streets and houses with toy money. tree →
3. (a monopoly on) Having something all to yourself: «You don't have a monopoly on the swing!» tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life: families play Monopoly, which teaches counting money, adding and paying rent. In economics: a monopoly means no competition, so prices can be high. Phrases: «a monopoly on/of», «play Monopoly», «Monopoly money».

Examples

• We played Monopoly all afternoon. tree →
• I landed on my brother's hotel and had to pay rent. tree →
• One company had a monopoly on the town's water. tree →
• Nobody has a monopoly on good ideas. tree →
• Monopoly money is not real money. tree →
• A monopoly can make prices go up. tree →

Note

Plural: monopolies (y → ies). The game's name is a brand, written with a capital M. Stress: mo-NOP-o-ly. Verb: monopolise / monopolize (to keep something all to yourself).