Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Monopoly \Mo*nop"o*ly\, n.; pl. {Monopolies}. [L. monopolium,
   Gr. ?, ?; mo`nos alone + ? 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.

            Raleigh held a monopoly of cards, Essex a monopoly
            of sweet wines.                       --Macaulay.

   2. Exclusive possession; as, a monopoly of land.

            If I had a monopoly out, they would have part on 't.
                                                  --Shak.

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