# dominance

/ˈdɑmənəns/ (US) · /dˈɒmɪnəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dominance
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. power and control

noun · CEFR B2

the state of being more powerful or important than others.

For teachers: the condition of having power, authority, or influence over others.

- The company's dominance in the smartphone market lasted for over a decade.
- The empire maintained its political dominance through a combination of military might and strategic trade alliances across the continent.

### 2. genetics

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the way a specific gene shows its effect even when only one parent passes it on.

For teachers: the property of a genetic trait or allele that allows it to be expressed in the phenotype even when a different allele is present.

- In many plants, the gene for red flowers shows dominance over the gene for white flowers.
- The researcher studied the incomplete dominance of certain alleles to understand why the offspring displayed a blend of parental traits.

Usage: Often used in the context of Mendelian genetics to describe allele relationships.

### 3. physical preference

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the natural tendency to use one side of your body more than the other, like being right-handed.

For teachers: the functional superiority or preferred use of one side of the body or one of a pair of organs.

- Most people show a clear right-hand dominance when they start learning to write.
- Occupational therapists often assess ocular dominance alongside hand preference to better understand a child's motor development.

## Examples

- The team showed their dominance by winning every game this season.
- In many wolf packs, a clear hierarchy exists where a single pair maintains dominance over the other members.
- The rapid market dominance of the new software suite effectively stifled competition, leading to a near-monopoly that lasted for over a decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.