dynasty

noun

dy·nas·ty | \ ˈdī-nə-stē also -ˌnas-tē

, especially British ˈdi-nə-stē\

plural dynasties

Definition of dynasty

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

Other Words from dynasty Sports Dynasties Dynasty Has Greek Roots More Example Sentences Learn More about dynasty

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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

Bruegel launched an artistic dynasty: His two sons, Pieter the Younger and Jan the Elder, and later his grandsons kept the Bruegel name going beyond the death of Rubens in the mid-17th century. — J.s. Marcus, WSJ, "Strange and Stirring Bruegel," 7 Sep. 2018 Jen Rizzotti, another member of the group that launched a dynasty in Storrs, followed suit. — Staff Report, courant.com, "Geno Auriemma Tweets Defense Of Jamelle Elliott After 'Disgraceful' Firing As Cincinnati Coach," 22 Mar. 2018 Before Alabama began this run by winning its first title under Saban in 2009, there were several other schools that could stake a claim to greatest college football dynasty in the poll era. — Josh Dubow, The Seattle Times, "Alabama already among greatest college dynasties," 7 Jan. 2019 Massachusetts and the rest of New England will eventually be worn down by all the trophies, confetti and a dynasty that never quits. — WSJ, "Another Day, Another Title in New England," 4 Feb. 2019 But, while the idea of being a modern member of a deposed dynasty has its appeal, that isn’t what’s at the show’s heart. — Adam Rathe, Town & Country, "Matthew Weiner Says Being a Romanoff Is "Almost Like Saying You’re a Kennedy"," 14 Oct. 2018 Armed with a 105-millimeter M68 gun, thermal imaging sights, Chobham composite matrix armor and a gas turbine engine, the M1 was a revolutionary tank and a clean break from a dynasty of tanks that stretched back to the closing days of World War II. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Army’s Next 'Tank' Could Look Like Anything," 11 Oct. 2018 This is a man who has many facets and, ultimately, has created a notorious football dynasty. — Fox News, "'Belichick: The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All Time' by Ian O'Connor," 25 Sep. 2018 Albert Smith — untouched by the soldiers’ potshots — survived to found a modest dynasty of Smiths who have periodically honored his memory with Old Town flag-raisings. — Pauline Repard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Richard Smith joins 172-year family history of Old Town flag-waving," 23 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dynasty.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.