What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
semimonopoly
Example
The telecommunications industry in this country is a semimonopoly, with one major player and a few smaller competitors. [semimonopoly: noun]
Example
The company has a semimonopoly on the production of a particular type of computer chip, but there are still a few other companies that produce similar chips. [semimonopoly: adjective]
oligopoly
Example
The airline industry is an oligopoly, with a few large companies controlling most of the market. [oligopoly: noun]
Example
The soft drink industry is dominated by a few large companies, resulting in an oligopoly market structure. [oligopoly: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Oligopoly is a more common term than semimonopoly in economics and business contexts. Oligopoly is a widely recognized market structure, while semimonopoly is a less common term used to describe a specific type of market structure.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between semimonopoly and oligopoly?
Both semimonopoly and oligopoly are formal terms used in economics and business contexts. However, oligopoly is more commonly used and may be considered more formal than semimonopoly due to its wider recognition and use in academic literature and policy discussions.
