# dominion

/dəˈmɪnjən/ (US) · /dəmˈɪniən/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. power and control

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

the power to control or rule over a person, group, or thing.

For teachers: sovereignty or supreme authority; the exercise of absolute control or stewardship.

- In many old stories, humans try to have dominion over all the animals in the forest.
- The emperor sought to extend his dominion over the neighboring tribes, claiming a divine right to govern their lands and resources.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'over'.

### 2. governed territory

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

the land or territory that a person or government rules.

For teachers: a territory, sphere of influence, or country under a particular government or sovereignty.

- The king traveled to the furthest corners of his dominion to meet his people.
- The treaty redefined the borders of the prince's dominion, ceding several coastal ports to the rival merchant republic.

### 3. British Commonwealth status

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

a historical name for a self-governing country within the British Empire.

For teachers: a historical title for autonomous polities within the British Empire and later the Commonwealth, such as Canada or Australia.

- Canada was known as a Dominion before it gained full independence from Britain.
- The 1926 Balfour Declaration recognized the Dominions as autonomous communities within the British Empire, equal in status to the United Kingdom.

Teaching tip: This sense is primarily historical; modern speakers use 'sovereign nation' or 'Commonwealth realm' instead.

## Examples

- The king had dominion over all the lands in the valley.
- The treaty established the empire's dominion over the coastal trade routes for the next century.
- The philosopher argued that humanity's perceived dominion over nature is a dangerous illusion that ignores our fundamental dependence on the ecosystem.

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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.