dominant

noun

1

music : the fifth tone of a major or minor scale (see scale entry 5 sense 1)

2

a

genetics : a character or factor that exerts genetic dominance (see dominance sense 1b)

b

ecology : any of one or more kinds of organism (such 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

dominant conifers

c

sociology : an individual having a controlling, prevailing, or powerful position in a social hierarchy : a dominant (see dominant entry 1 sense 1) individual in a social hierarchy

Word Icons

Examples of dominant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The luteal phase covers days 15 through 28, with progesterone dominant. —Allison Palmer june 4, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026

Is 'this time is different' narrative dominant? —Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Former supporters of Bolivia's long-dominant Movement Toward Socialism party, known by its Spanish acronym MAS, who helped vault Paz to power over more conservative rivals, have increasingly voiced concern that his government doesn't represent them. —ABC News, 27 May 2026

And Busch, the once-precocious-then-dominant-and-now-so-called-aging-giant of NASCAR, is laughing through his frustration. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dominant

• prominent
• nondominant
• predominant
• subdominant

Kids Definition

dominant

1 of 2 adjective

dom·​i·​nant ˈdäm-(ə-)nənt 

1

a

: commanding, controlling, or having great influence over all others

a dominant political figure

b

: very important, powerful, or successful

a dominant industry

2

: rising high above the surroundings

3

: predominant, outstanding

4

: exhibiting genetic dominance

a dominant gene

dominant traits in peas

compare recessive entry 1 sense 2

5

: of, relating to, or being an ecological dominant

dominantly adverb

dominant

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a dominant gene or a character which it controls

b

: a kind of living thing (as a species) that has a major influence on the environment of an ecological community

2

: the fifth note of the musical scale

Medical Definition

dominant

1 of 2 adjective

dom·​i·​nant -nənt 

1

: exerting forcefulness or having dominance in a social hierarchy

2

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

the dominant eye

3

: of, relating to, or exerting genetic dominance

dominantly adverb

dominant

2 of 2 noun

1

: a dominant genetic character or factor

2

: a dominant individual in a social hierarchy