empire

em·pire

noun \ˈem-ˌpī(-ə)r\

Definition of EMPIRE

1

a (1) : a major political unit having a territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples under a single sovereign authority; especially : one having an emperor as chief of state (2) : the territory of such a political unit

b : something resembling a political empire; especially : an extensive territory or enterprise under single domination or control

2

: imperial sovereignty, rule, or dominion

3

capitalized [Empire State, nickname for New York] : a juicy apple with dark red skin that is a cross between a McIntosh apple and a Red Delicious apple

Examples of EMPIRE

1. She built a tiny business into a worldwide empire.
2. He controlled a cattle empire in the heart of Texas.

Origin of EMPIRE

Middle English, from Anglo-French empire, empirie, from Latin imperium absolute authority, empire, from imperare to command — more at emperor

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to EMPIRE

Synonyms

conglomerate

Related Words

multinational; cartel, combination, combine, syndicate, trust; chain; association, corporation, organization, pool

Other Government and Politics Terms

agent provocateur, agitprop, autarky, cabal, egalitarianism, federalism, hegemony, plenipotentiary, popular sovereignty, socialism

Rhymes with EMPIRE

attire, backfire, bemire, catch fire, cross fire, denier, desire, entire, for hire, fox fire, Greek fire, grey friar, hang fire, hellfire, live wire, on fire, prior, rimfire, sapphire, sea fire, snow tire, town crier, trip wire, umpire, watch fire, white friar

Em·pire

adjective \ˈäm-ˌpir, ˈem-ˌpī(-ə)r\

Definition of EMPIRE

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a style (as of clothing or furniture) popular in early 19th century France

Origin of EMPIRE

French, from (le premier) Empire the first Empire of France

First Known Use: 1860

Other Furniture and Woodworking Terms

appoint, credenza, mission, settee

Rhymes with EMPIRE

adhere, Aesir, Ajmer, all clear, ambeer, appear, arrear, Asir, Ayrshire, besmear, by ear, Cape Fear, career, cashier, cashmere, Cheshire, chimere, clavier, cohere, compeer, destrier, dog-ear, emir, endear, ensphere, eyrir, Fafnir, footgear, frontier, gambier, Goodyear, headgear, inhere, Izmir, Kashmir, kefir, killdeer, Landseer, leap year, life peer, light-year, man-year, menhir, midyear, mishear, monsieur, mouse-ear, mule deer, musk deer, nadir, near beer, New Year, off year, out-year, pickeer, portiere, premier, premiere, red deer, redear, rehear, reindeer, revere, revers, Robespierre, roe deer, root beer, santir, severe, Shakespeare, sincere, slick-ear, small beer, spruce beer, steer clear, Tangier, tapir, tin ear, uprear, Vanir, veneer, Vermeer, vizier, voir dire, wheatear, Wiltshire, wind shear, wood ear, worm gear, Ymir, Yorkshire, zaire, Zaire