dominant

1 of 2

adjective

dom·​i·​nant ˈdä-mə-nənt 

ˈdäm-nənt

1

a

: commanding, controlling, or prevailing over all others

the dominant culture

b

: very important, powerful, or successful

a dominant theme

a dominant industry

the team's dominant performance

2

: overlooking and commanding from a superior position

a dominant hill

3

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

dominant genes

dominant and recessive traits

4

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

dominant eye

used her dominant hand

dominantly adverb

dominant

2 of 2

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

Synonyms

Adjective

• main
• predominant
• greatest
• highest
• primary
• foremost
• big
• leading
• first

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of dominant in a Sentence

Adjective

The company is now dominant in its market.

It is the dominant culture in the region.

the dominant female of the pack

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The 22-year-old is fresh off a dominant senior season and is widely regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects of his respective class. —Kevin McCormick, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025

The past two years made clear that Israel, with U.S. help, is the dominant military force. —Greg Myre, NPR, 28 June 2025

Noun

Acidity dominant and flavors include light red fruit such as raspberries. —Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Acidity dominants, as with many 2024 Bordeaux wines, but complexity is evident in this light juice with fine flavors of young red fruit. —Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

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

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1532, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

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