What does "dominant" mean?
The fifth major tone of a musical scale (five major steps above the note in question); thus G is the dominant of C, A of D, and so on.
Dominant
/ˈdɒmɪnənt/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The fifth major tone of a musical scale (five major steps above the note in question); thus G is the dominant of C, A of D, and so on.
- Grammar: dominant is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: absolute, accidental, all-absorbing, alpha.
- Useful contrasts: defiant, docile, obedient.
- Usage evidence: The company's analysis shows that in over 60% of all accidents in the past ten years, the behavior of the flight crew was the dominant cause.
How to use "dominant"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dominant" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "dominant" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "dominant" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "dominant" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "dominant" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "absolute" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "dominant", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The fifth major tone of a musical scale (five major steps above the note in question); thus G is the dominant of C, A of D, and so on.
- 2 an allele that produces the same phenotype whether its paired allele is identical or different wordnet
- 3 The triad built on the dominant tone.
- 4 (music) the fifth note of the diatonic scale wordnet
- 5 Of an allele, that a heterozygote for the allele has the same phenotype as the homozygote.
"Finally, if we suppose provisionally that the mutant genes are dominant just as often as they are recessive, selection will be far more severe in eliminating the disadvantageous dominants than in eliminating the disadvantageous recessives."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 A species or organism that is dominant.
"Landowners cannot afford to cut submerchantable trees, yet many hesitate to cut merchantable dominants and codominants at the risk of downgrading the residual stand."
- 7 The dominating partner in sadomasochistic sexual activity.
"This calendar is not for the faint of heart (unless you have some strong butch dominant to hold you while you swoon)"
Adjective
- 1 Ruling; governing; prevailing
"The dominant party controlled the government."
- 2 Predominant, common, prevalent, of greatest importance.
"The dominant plants of the Carboniferous were lycopods and early conifers."
- 3 Preferred and used with greater dexterity than the other, as the right hand of a right-handed person or the left hand of a left-handed one.
- 4 Designating the follicle which will survive atresia and permit ovulation.
- 5 Being the dominant
"Dominant seventh"
Adjective
- 1 exercising influence or control wordnet
- 2 (of genes) producing the same phenotype whether its allele is identical or dissimilar wordnet
- 3 most frequent or common wordnet
Antonyms
Example
"The company's analysis shows that in over 60% of all accidents in the past ten years, the behavior of the flight crew was the dominant cause."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dominant"?
Common synonyms include: absolute, accidental, all-absorbing, alpha, arch, ascendant.
How do you use "dominant" in a sentence?
The company's analysis shows that in over 60% of all accidents in the past ten years, the behavior of the flight crew was the dominant cause.
How do you pronounce "dominant"?
Pronounced /ˈdɒmɪnənt/.
Etymology
From Middle French dominant.