ascendancy

American  

[uh-sen-duhn-see] / əˈsɛn dən si /

Also ascendance, or ascendency

noun

1. the state of being in the ascendant; governing or controlling influence; domination.

   Synonyms:

   supremacy, sovereignty, preeminence, predominance, hegemony, dominion, dominance

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ascendancy British  

/ əˈsɛndəns, əˈsɛndənsɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being dominant, esp through superior economic or political power

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonascendence
  noun
• nonascendance
  noun
• nonascendency
  noun
• nonascendancy
  noun

Etymology

Origin of ascendancy

First recorded in 1705–15; ascend(ant) + -ancy

Explanation

When you assume ascendancy over someone else, you become more powerful than they are. Ascendancy is the state of being in a higher position. If you look at ascendancy, you see the word, ascend, which means to go up. Ascendancy is not so much about going up, but about being up. Another word for it is dominance, especially in the context of foreign or domestic relations. In school, if you question a teacher's ascendancy, you might be told to go to the principal's office. In this case, you're challenging the teacher's authority.

Related Words

• dominance
• predominance