What does "empire" mean?
A political state, often a monarchy, that has achieved a much greater current size than its initial size by conquering surrounding territories, cities or nations.
Empire
/ˈɛm.paɪ̯ə̯/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A political state, often a monarchy, that has achieved a much greater current size than its initial size by conquering surrounding territories, cities or nations.
- Grammar: empire is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: administration, ally, archduchy, archdukedom.
- Useful contrasts: itali an città, mesopotamian city-states, modern nation states.
- Usage evidence: Although 475AD is the year that shows the 'decline' of the Roman Empire, it is not the year of its 'fall'.
How to use "empire"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "empire" 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 "empire" 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 "empire" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "empire" 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 "empire" is acting as adj, 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 "administration" 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 "empire", 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 A political state, often a monarchy, that has achieved a much greater current size than its initial size by conquering surrounding territories, cities or nations.
"the Russian empire"
- 2 an eating apple that somewhat resembles a McIntosh; used as both an eating and a cooking apple wordnet
- 3 A political unit ruled by an emperor or empress.
"The Empire of Vietnam was a short-lived client state of Japan governing Vietnam between March 11 and August 23, 1945."
- 4 a group of countries under a single authority wordnet
- 5 The group of states or other territories that owe allegiance to an imperial power (foreign to them), when distinguished from the native territory of that power; imperial possessions.
"British people [...] continued to believe in empire. It was what gave Britain a unique role in the world, and in return Britain had drawn strength from its empire to enable it to survive two great wars that had wrecked so many of its competitors. Imperial management in the twentieth[…]"
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 a group of diverse companies under common ownership and run as a single organization wordnet
- 7 An expansive and powerful enterprise under the control of one person or group.
"the McDonald's fast food empire"
- 8 a monarchy with an emperor as head of state wordnet
- 9 control, dominion, sway.
"Each master whim maintains its hour of empire, And obstinately faithful to its dictates"
- 10 the domain ruled by an emperor or empress; the region over which imperial dominion is exercised wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of Empire. alt-of, not-comparable
- 2 Following or imitating a style popular during the First French Empire (1804–1814). not-comparable
"However, the first style of this century was known as Empire furniture. It was a derivative of the French Empire furniture, popular at that time."
- 3 Following or imitating a style popular during the First French Empire (1804–1814).; Having the waistline just below the bust; featuring an empire waist. not-comparable
"...and for a moment he could not identify the lady in the Empire dress, nor imagine why her presence created such excitement among the initiated."
- 4 Produced in a dependency of the British Empire or Commonwealth of Nations. British, dated, not-comparable
"Wine from Portugal and France showed an irregular downward tendency over the period, while Empire wine from Australia and British South Africa rose rapidly, the former increasing nearly threefold between 1925 and 1927."
Proper Noun
- 1 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Walker County, Alabama.
- 2 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Chicot County, Arkansas.
- 3 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Stanislaus County, California.
- 4 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Clear Creek County, Colorado, named after the Empire State.
- 5 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place and former town in Dodge County and Bleckley County, Georgia.
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community and coal town in Christian County, Kentucky.
- 7 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.
- 8 A number of places in the United States:; A township and village therein, in Leelanau County, Michigan.
- 9 A number of places in the United States:; An unincorporated community in Butler County, Missouri.
- 10 A number of places in the United States:; A census-designated place in Washoe County, Nevada.
- 11 A number of places in the United States:; A village in Knox Township, Jefferson County, Ohio.
- 12 A number of places in the United States:; A district of the city of Coos Bay, Coos County, Oregon.
- 13 A number of places in the United States:; A town in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.
- 14 A number of places in the United States:; A former community in Goshen County, Wyoming.
- 15 A number of places in the United States:; A number of other townships, listed under Empire Township.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
itali an cittàmesopotamian city-statesmodern nation statessumerian city-states
Example
"Although 475AD is the year that shows the 'decline' of the Roman Empire, it is not the year of its 'fall'."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "empire"?
Common synonyms include: administration, ally, archduchy, archdukedom, authority, body politic.
How do you use "empire" in a sentence?
Although 475AD is the year that shows the 'decline' of the Roman Empire, it is not the year of its 'fall'.
How do you pronounce "empire"?
Pronounced /ˈɛm.paɪ̯ə̯/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English empire, from Old French empire, empere, from Latin imperium, inperium (“command, control, dominion, sovereignty, a dominion, empire”), from imperare, inperare (“to command, order”), from in (“in, on”) + parare (“to make ready, order”). Doublet of empery and imperium.
Etymology 2
See empire.