# dynasty

/ˈdaɪnəsti/ (US) · /dˈɪnɐsti/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. ruling family

noun · CEFR B2

a series of rulers who all belong to the same family.

For teachers: a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or government.

- The Ming dynasty ruled China for almost three hundred years.
- The political dynasty maintained its grip on the province for three generations, with each successor expanding the family's industrial influence.

### 2. successful sports team

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a sports team that wins many championships over several years.

For teachers: a sports franchise or team that achieves a prolonged period of dominance and multiple championships.

- With three titles in four years, the team has become a true dynasty.
- Sports historians often debate whether the team's decade of dominance constitutes a true dynasty or merely a sequence of fortunate seasons.

### 3. historical era

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the period of time when a particular family was in power.

For teachers: the historical period during which a specific family or line of rulers held sovereign power.

- Many beautiful vases were created during that specific dynasty.
- The transition between dynasties was marked by significant civil unrest and a complete restructuring of the imperial bureaucracy.

## Examples

- The team became a dynasty after winning three titles in a row.
- Sports analysts often debate whether the current champions have the depth to build a true dynasty or if this was a one-time victory.
- Establishing a sporting dynasty requires not only elite talent but also a front office capable of navigating the salary cap to maintain a competitive core over several seasons.

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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.