dominance
B2Formal, Academic, Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The state or position of having power, control, or influence over others.
Superiority or prominence in a particular field, hierarchy, or relationship; the degree to which one genetic allele or trait suppresses another.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an uncountable noun. Implies a hierarchical relationship where one entity is in a superior position. Can refer to social, political, economic, biological, or psychological control. Often associated with sustained or systemic power rather than a single act.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Usage is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral to slightly negative, depending on context (e.g., 'market dominance' is neutral/business-like, 'male dominance' can be critical). Slightly more formal register in everyday speech.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both academic and formal contexts. Slightly more common in American business and sports journalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
dominance of [ENTITY] over [ENTITY]dominance in [FIELD/DOMAIN]to establish/assert/maintain dominanceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Establish a pecking order (related concept)”
- “Rule the roost (related concept)”
- “Top dog (related concept)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a company's leading position in a market, e.g., 'The firm sought market dominance through innovation.'
Academic
Used in social sciences (power structures), biology (genetics, animal behaviour), and economics.
Everyday
Used to describe a person's assertive personality or a team's superior performance in sports.
Technical
In genetics: the relationship between alleles where one masks the effect of another. In ecology: the prevailing influence of a species.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team dominated the match.
- She has a dominating personality.
American English
- The company dominates the industry.
- He tends to dominate the conversation.
adverb
British English
- He gestured dominantly, silencing the room.
American English
- She acted dominantly in the negotiations.
adjective
British English
- The castle was in a dominant position on the hill.
- She played the dominant role in the partnership.
American English
- The fighter jet has dominant air superiority.
- The dominant narrative in the media is shifting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The big dog showed dominance.
- Her team has dominance in the league.
- The company's dominance in the market is clear.
- He tried to assert his dominance in the meeting.
- The political party maintained its dominance for over a decade.
- The study examined male dominance in primate social structures.
- Critics argue that the cultural dominance of Hollywood marginalises local film industries.
- The genetic trait exhibits complete dominance, meaning the heterozygous phenotype is identical to the homozygous dominant one.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DOMINant lion (DOMIN-) in the jungle, showing its power and (-ANCE) state of being = DOMINANCE.
Conceptual Metaphor
POWER IS UP / CONTROL IS PHYSICAL SUPERIORITY (e.g., 'to hold a position of dominance', 'to be on top').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'доминанта' (a focal point, dominant feature in art/psychology). Russian 'доминирование' is closer but is a process/action; 'dominance' is the state/result. Avoid directly translating 'господство' in neutral contexts, as it can be overly political/historical.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a dominance' is rare). Confusing with 'domination' (the act of dominating). Misspelling as 'dominence'.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is 'dominance' used as a precise technical term?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is context-dependent. In business or sports ('market dominance', 'competitive dominance'), it is neutral or positive. In social contexts ('dominance of one group over another'), it often carries a critical or negative connotation.
'Dominance' is a state or position of power. 'Domination' refers more to the active process or act of dominating someone or something. You 'establish dominance' (state) through 'acts of domination' (process).
No. 'Dominance' is only a noun. The verb form is 'to dominate'. The adjective is 'dominant'.
It is very rare and usually considered non-standard. 'Dominance' is predominantly an uncountable noun. You would say 'a position of dominance' or 'a state of dominance' instead.
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