preponderance

noun pre·pon·der·ance \ pri-ˈpän-d(ə-)rən(t)s \

Definition of preponderance

1 :a superiority in weight, power, importance, or strength

2 a :a superiority or excess in number or quantity

b :majority

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Examples of preponderance in a Sentence

not since Rome in its glory days had a nation enjoyed such overwhelming military preponderance
a preponderance of the evidence points to the guilt of the defendant

Recent Examples of preponderance from the Web

The preponderance of telephoto lensing and tight, revealing close-ups (Weinstein was one of two cinematographers on the picture) heighten this man’s predicament.

— michael phillips, chicagotribune.com, "'Menashe': A Brooklyn tale of father, son and community," 10 Aug. 2017
Some common themes arise — an entire series devoted to artists posing beneath cross streets in their neighborhoods, the inevitable wads of cash on display and the particularly Detroit preponderance of classic automobile culture.

— sarah rose sharp, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit hip-hop is star of new 'D-Cyphered' photo exhibit at the DIA," 2 Aug. 2017
But the same calculus may not apply here and in other regions where a preponderance of patients are poor or uninsured, officials from both Mountain States and Wellmont say.

— phil galewitz, Kaiser Health News, "In Appalachia, Two Hospital Giants Seek State-Sanctioned Monopoly," 24 July 2017
Many African-Americans reveled when Simpson got off; many whites were mortified given the preponderance of the evidence in the case.

— byron mccauley, Cincinnati.com, "McCauley: In Tensing case, race is the elephant in the room," 18 July 2017
The preponderance of the 23 million public employees — across federal, state, and local government — are directly serving the people.

— steve ballmer, Time, "Steve Ballmer: 5 Facts About the U.S. Government That Blew My Mind," 12 July 2017
Steven Reviczky, the state's agriculture commissioner, testified the appeals process actually required the towns to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the disposal order is necessary.

— pat eaton-robb, courant.com, "Animal Advocates Challenge Connecticut's Dog Death Penalty," 10 July 2017
The first is preponderance of evidence, or more than 50% likely that someone is guilty.

— devin tomb, Good Housekeeping, "How a Rapist Gets Child Custody in the United States," 21 June 2017
According to the policy, all decisions shall be based upon the preponderance of evidence standard.

— steve schering, chicagotribune.com, "Oak Park and River Forest may make sexual misconduct, harassment policy changes," 15 June 2017

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