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oligopolistic

oligopolistic

1 9.4
A market controlled by a few large companies that limits competition
  • adjective
  • /ˌɑːlɪɡəˈpɒlɪstɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : oligopolista
  • In an oligopolistic market, a small number of companies control a large share of the industry, leading to limited competition.
  • oligopolistic market
  • monopolistic or oligopolistic

Aaron, do you see that as manipulation or just an opportunity to get some oligopolistic or monopolistic rents?

Examples

  • Alliance building is reinforcing oligopolistic practices and undermining the capacity of national competition authorities to protect consumers and a competitive market.

    Academic text (1993)
  • Mobile operators/carriers have an oligopolistic market condition due to the scarcity of the spectrum, and that is likely to give them long life.

    Blog text (28)
  • Is it through an oligopolistic control of an essential resource?

    Blog text (23)
  • In effect, the B film, a product of the oligopolistic structure of the studio system, no longer existed.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Because information technology is highly advanced, it is susceptible to monopolistic or oligopolistic control.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Such a requirement, which would protect against stiff and varying charges by oligopolistic banks, is vitally important to business.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The presence of these corporations and their level of vertical integration with the oligopolistic U.S. sugar-refining industry are not in question.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Now that raises the question, why don't all oligopolistic markets feature cartels?

  • Often, cooperation between corporations allows them to function in an oligopolistic manner, where they collectively dominate the entire market, carving it up between them.

    Blog text (4)
  • However, optional Medicare Gap and Medicare Advantage plans remain private, and the oligopolistic insurance companies try to maximize profits by focusing on low-risk seniors.

    Blog text (14)

Synonyms

oligarchic
vsoligopolistic
2 9.2

A government run by a small group of powerful people

describes control by few firms in markets rather than political rule

Antonyms

375 3.3

About business or markets where companies try to win customers

How Concentrated

monopolistic
7 8.1
oligopolistic
  • Specialized
1 9.4
competitive
375 3.3

Surface Forms

oligopolistic positive

Morphology

oligopolistic = oligopoly (transparent) = oligopoly + istic

The adjective is formed by adding the productive adjective-forming suffix '-istic' to the noun 'oligopoly', yielding 'relating to or characteristic of an oligopoly', which is directly derivable.

Etymology

The word oligopolistic comes from the Greek part oligo- meaning 'few' and the same selling idea found in monopoly ('to sell'). So it means a market where only a few companies sell or control most products.