English Lexicon

Dominant

/ˈdɒm.ɪ.nənt/
adjectivenounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #1450 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As adjective
  1. 1

    Most important, powerful, or influential.

    "The company holds a dominant position in the technology market."
  2. 2

    Genetics: denoting an inherited trait that masks the effect of a recessive trait when both are present.

    "Brown eyes are a dominant genetic trait over blue eyes."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Late Latin dominantem, the present participle of dominari (to rule or dominate), originating from dominus (lord or master). It entered the English language in the late 16th century, initially maintaining senses related to sovereignty and rule before expanding into biological, ecological, and musical contexts.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Dominant"?