Word
preponderance
Phoneticspre·pon·der·ance
US/pɹiˈpɑndɹəns/
UK/pɹɪpˈɒndəɹəns/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a large amount of something compared to everything else. It describes when one thing is much more common or important than others in a group.
n. a state of being greater in number, amount, or weight than other things. Often used in legal or formal contexts to describe the majority of evidence or a dominant quality.
Examples
“The preponderance of evidence suggests he is guilty.”
“In the final report, the preponderance of data pointed toward a single cause for the accident.”
“The committee noted a preponderance of negative feedback regarding the new policy, leading them to reconsider the proposed implementation timeline.”
Examples
simple
“The preponderance of evidence suggests he is guilty.”
contextual
“In the final report, the preponderance of data pointed toward a single cause for the accident.”
complex
“The committee noted a preponderance of negative feedback regarding the new policy, leading them to reconsider the proposed implementation timeline.”
Real-World Examples
“The preponderance of this growth has been driven by SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, which now has approximately 11,000 satellites in orbit, with many thousands more on the way.” Etymology
From preponderant + -ance.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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