monopoly

n.; pl. Monopolies [ L. monopolium, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;; mo`nos alone + &unr_; to sell. ] 1. The exclusive power, or privilege of selling a commodity; the exclusive power, right, or privilege of dealing in some article, or of trading in some market; sole command of the traffic in anything, however obtained; as, the proprietor of a patented article is given a monopoly of its sale for a limited time; chartered trading companies have sometimes had a monopoly of trade with remote regions; a combination of traders may get a monopoly of a particular product. [ 1913 Webster ]

Raleigh held a monopoly of cards, Essex a monopoly of sweet wines. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Exclusive possession; as, a monopoly of land. [ 1913 Webster ]

If I had a monopoly out, they would have part on 't. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The commodity or other material thing to which the monopoly relates; as, tobacco is a monopoly in France. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]