monopolies

noun

1. 1

   A situation, by legal privilege or other agreement, in which solely one party (company, cartel etc.) exclusively provides a particular product or service, dominating that market and generally exerting powerful control over it.

2. 2

   An exclusive control over the trade or production of a commodity or service through exclusive possession.

   “A land monopoly renders its holder(s) nearly almighty in an agricultural society.”

3. 3

   The privilege granting the exclusive right to exert such control.

   “Granting monopolies in concession constitutes a market-conform alternative to taxation for the state, while the crown sometimes bestowed a monopoly as an outrageous gift.”

4. 4

   (metonymy) The market thus controlled.

5. 5

   (metonymy) The holder (person, company or other) of such market domination in one of the above manners.