oligo

IPA/ˈɒlɪɡˌəʊ/
IPA/ˈɑːlɪɡˌoʊ/

oligo — combining form

1. relating to a small number of people or things — used as a prefix borrowed from

1.構詞成分B2
釋義

relating to a small number of people or things — used as a prefix borrowed from Greek to form technical and academic words in fields such as politics, economics, biology, and chemistry.

例句

An oligopoly is a market where a few large companies control most of the supply.

oligopoly = market with few sellers

The country was ruled by a small circle of wealthy families, a classic oligarchy.

oligarchy = government by few people

同義詞
  • few-

    a literal but non-standard English prefix; 'oligo-' is the established Greek-derived form in technical vocabulary

  • small-number

    a descriptive phrase used in non-technical contexts instead of 'oligo-'

反義詞
  • poly-

    the Greek prefix meaning 'many', as in 'polygamy' or 'polysaccharide'

  • multi-

    a Latin prefix meaning 'many', common in everyday English words

用法筆記

Unlike most English prefixes, 'oligo-' attaches primarily to Greek or Latin stems to form technical vocabulary. It does not attach freely to everyday English words — you cannot say *'oligobook' or *'oligocar'. Look for it in specialist terms from political science (oligarchy), economics (oligopoly), biology (oligodendrocyte), ecology (oligotrophic), and biochemistry (oligosaccharide).

常見錯誤

❌The company has an oligopoly for selling shoes.
✅A few large companies share an oligopoly in the athletic-shoe market.
💡oligopoly describes an industry structure, not a single company's position.