pentarchy

US: (pen′tär kē)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pen•tar•chy  (pen′tär kē), n., pl. -chies. 

1. Government a government by five persons.
2. Government a governing body of five persons.
3. Government a federation of five nations, each under its own government or ruler.

• Greek pentarchía. See pent-, -archy
• 1580–90

pen′tarch, n. 
pen•tar′chi•cal, adj.