ruling, governing, or controlling; having or exerting authority or influence: dominant in the chain of command.
occupying or being in a commanding or elevated position.
predominant; main; major; chief: Corn is the dominant crop of Iowa.
Genetics. of or relating to a dominant.
Music. pertaining to or based on the dominant: the dominant chord.
noun
Genetics.
the one of a pair of alternative alleles that masks the effect of the other when both are present in the same cell or organism.
the trait or character determined by such an allele.Compare recessive (defs. 4, 5).
Also called, Informal, dom . the participant in a BDSM sexual encounter or relationship to whom power and control are transferred.See also dominatrix (def. 1), domme.
Music. the fifth tone of a diatonic scale.
Ecology. any of one or more types of plants, or sometimes animals, that by virtue of abundance, size, or habits exert so important an influence on the conditions of an area as to determine, to a great extent, what other organisms can live there.
Origin of dominant
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin dominant- (stem of domināns, present participle of dominārī “to be lord and master, domineer”; see dominate), equivalent to domin(us) “master, possessor, ruler” + -ant- -ant
SYNONYMS FOR dominant
1 prevailing, principal.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR dominant ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for dominant
1. Dominant,predominant,paramount,preeminent describe something outstanding. Dominant describes something that is most influential or important: the dominant characteristics of monkeys.Predominant describes something that is dominant over all others, or is more widely prevalent: Curiosity is the predominant characteristic of monkeys.Paramount applies to something that is first in rank or order: Safety is of paramount importance.Preeminent applies to a prominence based on recognition of excellence: His work was of preeminent quality.
OTHER WORDS FROM dominant
dom·i·nant·ly,adverbnon·dom·i·nant,adjective,noun
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH dominant
dominant , dominate, domineer
Words nearby dominant
domiciliate, domiciliated, dominance, dominance hierarchy, dominance of genes, dominant, dominant character, dominant eye, dominant gene, dominant hemisphere, dominant idea
For all that we may wish it to be, “dating” simply is not the dominant romantic culture here.
Random Hook-Ups or Dry Spells: Why Millennials Flunk College Dating|Ellie Schaack|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Many young women in the BDSM subculture find their way into a dominant role, whether coming from a submissive standpoint or not.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sharply tailored blazer and weighty jewelry that cling to her body hints at the dominant personality she possesses.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Buddhist or Jewish dominant countries are more accepting than Christian or Muslim dominant ones.
It Gets Better—but Mostly if You Live in a Rich, Democratic Country|Jay Michaelson|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If similar rates of increase continued, it would quickly become a dominant factor in elections.
How Old People Will Decide Your Future|Stuart Stevens|October 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At any rate, if this be not strictly true,22 my mind is the most important and dominant element within me.
Plato and the Other Companions of Sokrates, 3rd ed. Volume II (of 4)|George Grote
The fear of ridicule is the most dominant of our feelings, that which controls us in most things and with the most strength.
Introduction to the Science of Sociology|Robert E. Park
There has been therefore in the successive forms and stages of animal life a clear sequence of dominant nervous actions.
The Whence and the Whither of Man|John Mason Tyler
Everybody knows the steps by which this embodied selfishness achieved his emancipation from a dominant Church.
The Eighteen Christian Centuries|James White
The dominant factor determining the character of this new age, however, is the hero.
Elements of Folk Psychology|Wilhelm Wundt
British Dictionary definitions for dominant
dominant
/ (ˈdɒmɪnənt) /
adjective
having primary control, authority, or influence; governing; ruling
predominant or primarythe dominant topic of the day
occupying a commanding position
genetics
(of an allele) producing the same phenotype in the organism irrespective of whether the allele of the same gene is identical or dissimilar
(of a character) controlled by such a gene
Compare recessive (def. 2)
musicof or relating to the fifth degree of a scale
ecology(of a plant or animal species within a community) more prevalent than any other species and determining the appearance and composition of the community
noun
genetics
a dominant allele or character
an organism having such an allele or character
music
the fifth degree of a scale and the second in importance after the tonic
Relating to the form of a gene that expresses a trait, such as hair color, in an individual organism. The dominant form of a gene overpowers the counterpart, or recessive, form located on the other of a pair of chromosomes.
Relating to the trait expressed by such a gene. See more at inheritance. Compare recessive.
Being a species that has the greatest effect within its ecological community, especially by determining the presence, abundance, or type of other species. As a plant community progresses through stages of succession, different species may become dominant for a period until the climax community is reached, at which point the dominant species remains stable until a major disruption occurs. Among animals, the dominant species in a community is generally the top predator or the most abundant or widespread species.
Being an animal that occupies the highest position in a social hierarchy and has the greatest access to resources such as food and a mate or mates. Social dominance is gained and maintained through factors such as size and aggressiveness.