dominant
High frequency (B2)Neutral to formal. Common in academic, scientific, business, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Most important, powerful, or influential; having control or authority over others or a situation.
Referring to the most common or prevalent gene, trait, or characteristic; in music, the fifth note of a diatonic scale; in ecology, the most abundant or controlling species in a community.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often carries connotations of strength, authority, and prevalence. Can have neutral, positive, or negative connotations depending on context (e.g., 'dominant market position' vs. 'dominant personality').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are the primary distinctions.
Connotations
Largely identical. In both varieties, can imply assertiveness or overbearing control when describing a person.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both British and American English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] dominant in + field/area (She is dominant in her field)[be] dominant over + competitor/group (The company is dominant over its rivals)the dominant + noun (the dominant ideology, the dominant species)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Hold a dominant position”
- “Establish dominance”
- “Rise to dominance”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Describes a company's leading market share or strategic advantage (e.g., 'a dominant market leader').
Academic
Used in genetics (dominant/recessive traits), sociology (dominant culture), and ecology (dominant species).
Everyday
Describes a person's personality, a team's performance in a game, or a prevailing opinion.
Technical
In music theory, refers to the fifth scale degree (V). In psychology/ethology, refers to an individual's status in a hierarchy.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He aims to dominate the sector.
- The issue dominated the headlines for weeks.
American English
- She dominated the competition.
- The tall buildings dominate the city skyline.
adverb
British English
- She spoke dominantly, leaving no room for argument.
- The gene expresses itself dominantly.
American English
- He played dominantly throughout the match.
- The ideology presented itself dominantly in the text.
adjective
British English
- The dominant narrative in the media was one of crisis.
- Brown eyes are a dominant trait.
American English
- The team has a dominant defense.
- Microsoft was the dominant operating system provider.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The blue team is the dominant team in the game.
- Lions are dominant animals.
- She has a very dominant personality in meetings.
- The dominant culture influences the smaller ones.
- The company secured a dominant position in the European market.
- The dominant theme of the novel is freedom.
- Their military strategy was predicated on establishing dominant awareness of the battlefield.
- The gene is autosomal dominant, meaning only one copy is needed for the trait to be expressed.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a DOMINANT lion who is the MAIN, controlling figure in his pride.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS UP / IMPORTANCE IS SIZE (e.g., 'a dominant figure', 'a dominant market share').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'доминантный' (biological/technical only). The general adjective is 'доминирующий' or 'господствующий'. 'Доминатный' is a false friend.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (the verb is 'dominate'). Incorrect: 'He dominants the conversation.' Correct: 'He dominates...' or 'He is dominant in...'. Confusing 'dominant' (adj) with 'domineering' (adj, always negative).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'dominant' used in a strictly technical, non-figurative sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Dominant' is a neutral descriptive term meaning most important or influential. 'Domineering' is always negative, describing someone who is oppressively overbearing and tries to control others.
Yes, though less common. In genetics, it refers to a dominant trait or gene. In sociology/psychology, it can refer to the dominant individual in a group. Example: 'The brown allele is the dominant.'
The opposite is 'recessive'. A recessive gene/trait is one that is expressed only when two copies are present, being masked by a dominant allele.
Yes, 'dominant' is a gradable adjective. You can compare degrees of dominance. Example: 'Company A became more dominant than Company B.' 'This is the most dominant ideology.'