dominant

¹dom·i·nant

adjective \-nənt\

Definition of DOMINANT

1

a : commanding, controlling, or prevailing over all others <the dominant culture>

b : very important, powerful, or successful <a dominant theme> <a dominant industry>

2

: overlooking and commanding from a superior position <a dominant hill>

3

: of, relating to, or exerting ecological or genetic dominance

4

: being the one of a pair of bodily structures that is the more effective or predominant in action <dominant eye>

— dom·i·nant·ly adverb

Examples of DOMINANT

1. The company is now dominant in its market.
2. It is the dominant culture in the region.
3. the dominant female of the pack

Origin of DOMINANT

Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin dominant-, dominans, present participle of dominari

First Known Use: circa 1532

Related to DOMINANT

Synonyms

arch, big, capital, cardinal, central, chief, foremost, first, grand, great, greatest, highest, key, leading, main, master, number one (also No. 1), numero uno, overbearing, overmastering, overriding, paramount, predominant, preeminent, premier, primal, primary, principal, prior, sovereign (also sovran), supreme

Antonyms

last, least

Related Words

distinguished, eminent, illustrious, noble, notable, noteworthy, outstanding, prestigious, signal, star, stellar, superior; high-level, senior, top; important, influential, major, mighty, momentous, significant; incomparable, matchless, unequaled (or unequalled), unparalleled, unsurpassed; celebrated, famed, famous, renowned

Near Antonyms

inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, minor, negligible, slight, trifling, trivial, unimportant; collateral, inferior, secondary, subordinate, subsidiary

Synonym Discussion of DOMINANT

dominant, predominant, paramount, preponderant mean superior to all others in influence or importance. dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling <a dominant social class>. predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence <a predominant emotion>. paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction <unemployment was the paramount issue in the campaign>. preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect <preponderant evidence in her favor>.

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

²dominant

noun

Definition of DOMINANT

1

: the fifth tone of a major or minor scale

2

a : a dominant genetic character or factor

b : any of one or more kinds of organism (as a species) in an ecological community that exerts a controlling influence on the environment and thereby largely determines what other kinds of organisms are present

c : a dominant individual in a social hierarchy

First Known Use of DOMINANT

1819

Other Genetics Terms

chimera, hermaphrodite, plasticity

Rhymes with DOMINANT

prominent