ENGLISH
REFERENCE

dominion

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US //dəˈmɪnjən// UK //dəmˈɪniən// do·min·ion Archaic

n. the power to control or rule over a country or area. It can also mean the land that belongs to a specific ruler.

n. sovereignty or control over a territory or people; the power to govern. Often refers to the territory under a single government's authority.


SIMPLE

The king had dominion over all the lands in the valley.

CONTEXTUAL

The treaty established the empire's dominion over the coastal trade routes for the next century.

COMPLEX

The philosopher argued that humanity's perceived dominion over nature is a dangerous illusion that ignores our fundamental dependence on the ecosystem.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English dominion, from Middle French dominion, from Latin dominium (“lordship, right of ownership”), from dominus (“lord”), from domus (“house”). See demain, demesne, domain, dominium.

Usage

Uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of power; countable when referring to specific territories.

© 2026 English Reference