What does "dominion" mean?
Power or the use of power; sovereignty over something; stewardship, supremacy.
Dominion
/dəˈmɪnjən/ name, noun
name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Power or the use of power; sovereignty over something; stewardship, supremacy.
- Grammar: dominion is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: rule, territory, acme, administration.
- Useful contrasts: powerlessness, subordination, unclaimed land.
- Usage evidence: Does mankind have dominion over animals and birds?
How to use "dominion"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "dominion" 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 "dominion" 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 "dominion" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "dominion" 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 "dominion" is acting as name, 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 "rule" 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 "dominion", 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 Power or the use of power; sovereignty over something; stewardship, supremacy. countable, uncountable
"And at the end of the dayes, I Nebuchad-nezzar lift vp mine eyes vnto heauen, and mine vnderſtanding returned vnto me, and I bleſſed the moſt high, and I praiſed, and honoured him that liueth for euer, whoſe dominion is an euerlaſting dominion, and his kingdome is from generation to generation."
- 2 one of the self-governing nations in the British Commonwealth wordnet
- 3 Predominance; ascendancy. countable, uncountable
"Objects placed foremost ought […] have dominion over things which are confus'd and transient."
- 4 a region marked off for administrative or other purposes wordnet
- 5 A kingdom, nation, or other sphere of influence; governed territory. countable, figuratively, sometimes, uncountable
"the dominions of a king the dominion of the passions"
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 dominance or power through legal authority wordnet
- 7 kingdom countable, uncountable
- 8 An order of angel in Christian angelology, ranked above virtues and below thrones. countable, uncountable
"For by him were all things created[…], whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him."
Proper Noun
- 1 Any of the self-governing nations of the British Commonwealth until 1949. historical
Antonyms
Example
"Does mankind have dominion over animals and birds?"
Common questions
What is a synonym for "dominion"?
Common synonyms include: rule, territory, acme, administration, ally, ambit.
How do you use "dominion" in a sentence?
Does mankind have dominion over animals and birds?
How do you pronounce "dominion"?
Pronounced /dəˈmɪnjən/.
Etymology
From Middle English dominion, from Middle French dominion, from Latin dominium (“lordship, right of ownership”), from dominus (“lord”), from domus (“house”). See demain, demesne, domain, dominium.