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
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
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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
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
From being drafted in the first round to somehow exceeding those expectations, Smith and Martin represented something much bigger than their dominant play on the field.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Only Republican members of Congress can these save hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for their constituents, and help America truly be energy dominant.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dominant
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Adjective
Even with Harris included, no candidate holds a dominant lead – a contrast with other surveys that have shown her far ahead.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
From being drafted in the first round to somehow exceeding those expectations, Smith and Martin represented something much bigger than their dominant play on the field.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Apr. 2025
Noun
Knight’s rise on SmackDown came during Roman Reigns’ dominant run as WWE Champion, a reality that even Knight admitted was a point of frustration as he was left out of the world title scene en route to WrestleMania 40 last year.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Only Republican members of Congress can these save hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for their constituents, and help America truly be energy dominant.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dominant
Cite this Entry
“Dominant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dominant. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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 noun1
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
2 of 2 noun1
: a dominant genetic character or factor
2
: a dominant individual in a social hierarchy
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