plutocracy |ploōˈtäkrəsē|
noun ( pl. -cies)
government by the wealthy.
• a country or society governed in this way.
• an elite or ruling class of people whose power derives from their wealth.

DERIVATIVES
plutocratic |ˌploōtəˈkratik| adjective
plutocratically |ˌploōtəˈkratiklē| adverb

ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: from Greek ploutokratia, from ploutos‘wealth’ + kratos ‘strength, authority.’

USAGE See usage at aristocracy