- Main Entry:
- 1dom·i·nant
- Pronunciation:
-
\-nənt\
- Function:
- adjective
- Etymology:
- Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin dominant-, dominans, present participle of dominari
- Date:
- circa 1532
1 a: commanding, controlling, or prevailing over all others <the dominant culture> b: very important, powerful, or successful <a dominant theme> <a dominant industry>2: overlooking and commanding from a superior position <a dominant hill>3: of, relating to, or exerting ecological or genetic dominance4: being the one of a pair of bodily structures that is the more effective or predominant in action <dominant eye>
— dom·i·nant·ly adverb
synonyms 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>.
