# empire

/ˈɛmpaɪɝ/ (US) · /ˈɛmpaɪə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/empire
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. political states

noun · CEFR B2

a large group of countries or regions that are controlled by one single ruler or government.

For teachers: a political unit, typically under a single sovereign authority, that has expanded its territory through conquest or colonisation.

- The Roman Empire controlled much of the land around the Mediterranean Sea.
- Historians often debate the internal and external factors that led to the eventual collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the early twentieth century.

### 2. business/enterprise

noun · CEFR B2

a very large and powerful business or group of companies controlled by one person or family.

For teachers: an extensive and powerful commercial enterprise or organisation under the control of a single individual or group.

- The fashion designer built a global empire that includes clothes, perfume, and hotels.
- The media mogul spent decades expanding his empire, eventually acquiring major newspapers and television networks across three continents.

### 3. design/style

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

a style of furniture, clothing, or art that was popular in France in the early 1800s.

For teachers: denoting a neoclassical style of dress, furniture, and architecture popular during the First French Empire under Napoleon I.

- She wore an Empire waist dress that was tight under the bust and loose below.
- The drawing room was furnished with authentic Empire chairs, characterized by their rigid lines and ornate brass fittings.

Usage: Usually capitalized when referring to the specific historical style.

## Examples

- The Roman Empire lasted for hundreds of years.
- The CEO spent decades building a global media empire that includes newspapers, television stations, and film studios.
- Historians often debate whether the decline of an empire is caused by external pressures or by the gradual erosion of its internal institutions and economic stability.

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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.