dominican: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2Formal to Neutral
Quick answer
What does “dominican” mean?
A person from or relating to the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean country. Also, a member of a Catholic religious order founded by St.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person from or relating to the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean country. Also, a member of a Catholic religious order founded by St. Dominic.
Relating to the culture, traditions, music, food, or language of the Dominican Republic. Also refers to the philosophy, practices, or architecture associated with the Dominican religious order.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. UK English may more readily evoke the Dominican religious order in historical contexts; US English more frequently refers to the diaspora community. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
In both varieties, the primary connotation is national identity. In academic/historical contexts, 'Dominican' may also refer to the 'Dominican Order' (friars) or 'Dominican nuns'.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US English due to larger Dominican diaspora population in the United States.
Grammar
How to Use “dominican” in a Sentence
[a/the] Dominican (noun)of Dominican origin/descentDominican-born (adjective)be DominicanVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “dominican” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No verb form]
American English
- [No verb form]
adverb
British English
- [No adverb form]
American English
- [No adverb form]
adjective
British English
- She loves Dominican merengue music.
- The stained glass was installed by Dominican craftsmen in the 15th century.
American English
- We're going to a Dominican restaurant for dinner.
- He's a Dominican-American artist based in New York.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The Dominican export market for cigars and cocoa is significant."
Academic
"The Dominican theologian Thomas Aquinas profoundly influenced Western philosophy."
Everyday
"My neighbour is Dominican and makes amazing mangu."
Technical
"The Dominican amber deposits contain remarkable biological inclusions from the Miocene epoch."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “dominican”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “dominican”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “dominican”
- Writing 'dominican' in lowercase (incorrect).
- Confusing with 'Dominica' (a different island nation).
- Assuming all references are religious.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Dominican' primarily refers to a person/thing from the Dominican Republic. 'Dominica' is a separate, smaller island nation in the Caribbean. A person from Dominica is called 'Dominican' (same spelling) but from the Commonwealth of Dominica, not the Dominican Republic.
Yes. As it derives from a proper noun (the country 'Dominican Republic' or the founder 'St. Dominic'), it is always capitalized.
Yes. As a noun: 'She is a Dominican.' As an adjective: 'Dominican culture,' 'Dominican priest.'
The Dominican Order, formally the Order of Preachers, is a Catholic monastic order founded by St. Dominic in the 13th century. Its members are known for scholarship, preaching, and teaching.
A person from or relating to the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean country. Also, a member of a Catholic religious order founded by St.
Dominican is usually formal to neutral in register.
Dominican: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɒm.ɪˈniː.kən/, and in American English it is pronounced /dəˈmɪn.ɪ.kən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to the word 'Dominican']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DOMINICAN: Think of the DOMINican REPUBLIC on the island of Hispaniola. 'Domini' can also remind you of the Latin 'Domini' (of the Lord), linking to the religious order.
Conceptual Metaphor
Nation as Person/Community (e.g., 'The Dominican diaspora is growing').
Practice
Quiz
What are the two primary meanings of 'Dominican'?