monopoly Look up monopoly at Dictionary.com
"exclusive control of a commodity or trade," 1530s, from L. monopolium, from Gk. monopolion "right of exclusive sale," from mono- (q.v.) + polein "to sell," from PIE base *pel- "to sell, purchase, barter, gain" (cf. Skt. panate "barters, purchases," Lith. pelnas "gain," O.C.S. splenu, Rus. polon "prey, booty," O.N. falr, Du. veil, Ger. feil "for sale, venal"). The popular board game, invented by Charles Darrow, is from 1935. Monopoly money "unreal currency" is attested from 1972, in ref. to the game.