monarchs

Noun

monarch (plural monarchs)

1. The ruler of an absolute monarchy or the head of state of a constitutional monarchy.
   • Never was monarch better fear'd and lov'd / Than is your Majesty.1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount...

   Synonyms:

   sovereign

2. A monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) and others of genus Danaus, found primarily in North America.
   • But I know the monarchs are close by, their orange-and-black wings folded, dusted, and baked by heat, ready to flee south.2019, Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, Jonathan Cape, page 223
3. (Aboriginal English) A police officer.
   • ‘Skippy gets off. An ya know the first thing e says to them monarch? E turns round on em an yelps, “An now ya can just gimme back that bottle.”’1961, Nene Gare, The Fringe Dwellers, Text Classics, published 2012, page 41
4. (capitalized, often) A stag which has sixteen or more points or tines on its antlers.
5. The chief or best thing of its kind.
6. Any bird of the family Monarchidae.

   Synonyms:

   monarch flycatcher

See all 15 meanings of monarch