dynasty

noun

dy·​nas·​ty ˈdī-nə-stē 

 also  -ˌna-stē,

 especially British  ˈdi-nə-stē

plural dynasties

1

: a succession of rulers of the same line of descent (see descent sense 1a)

a dynasty that ruled China for nearly 300 years

2

: a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time

born into a powerful political dynasty

a baseball dynasty

dynastic

dī-ˈna-stik 

adjective

dynastically

dī-ˈna-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Dynasty Has Greek Roots

Dynasty has had quite the run in English. For over 600 years it’s been used to refer to a ruling family that maintains power generation after generation. At the time dynasty was first used in English, for example, England was in the midst of rule by the Plantagenet dynasty, whose line of succession provided 14 kings, from Henry II to Richard III. Around the beginning of the 19th century, the word developed the figurative sense “a group or family that dominates a particular field for generations.” Nowadays, this sense of dynasty is often applied to sports franchises that have prolonged runs of successful seasons, divine right not required. Technically, any team is capable of becoming this type of dynasty, including not only Kings and Royals, but also Ducks.

Did you know?

Sports Dynasties

Dynasty has been in use in English for over 600 years, for most of that time referring to a ruling family that maintains power through succession. Around the beginning of the 19th century, the word developed the figurative sense “a group or family that dominates a particular field for generations.” Nowadays, this sense of dynasty is often applied to a sports franchise which has a prolonged run of successful seasons. The sports use appears to have begun in the early 20th century. An article in The Washington Post in 1905 refers to “John T. Brush’s baseball dynasty,” and by 1912 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that “if players were free agents at the end of every two years, baseball dynasties such as those built up by the Cubs, Athletics, Detroits and Giants would not be possible.”

Examples of dynasty in a Sentence

a dynasty that ruled China for nearly 300 years

There was a civil war during the dynasty.

She was born into a powerful political dynasty.

Recent Examples on the Web

Strategies like credit shelter trusts, dynasty trusts, and GST exemption allocation remain relevant tools for asset protection and long-term tax resilience. —Matthew F. Erskine, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Proposal could topple Miami’s political dynasties On Thursday, the City Commission was scheduled to take a vote to direct the city attorney to draft language for the ballot question. —Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2025

Their nine-month imprisonment presaged an evisceration of human rights in Cambodia by Hun Sen, the longtime leader who refashioned a young democracy into a dictatorial dynasty. —Sun Narin, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously said the Southeast Asian country would not engage with the ICC, only for Manila to reverse its stance this week following the collapse of an alliance between the Marcos political dynasty and Duterte’s clan. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dynastia, dynastie "power, sovereignty, succession of rulers," borrowed from Medieval Latin dynastīa, going back to Late Latin, "rule, power," borrowed from Greek dynasteía "arbitrarily exercised political power, lordship, rule," from dynástēs "holder of political power, lord, ruler" + -eia -y entry 2 — more at dynast

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

dynasty

noun

dy·​nas·​ty ˈdī-nə-stē 

 also  -ˌnas-tē

plural dynasties

: a succession of rulers of the same line of descent

dynastic

dī-ˈnas-tik 

adjective

dynastically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb