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• domino
  domino

  noun

  a flat, thumbsized, rectangular block, the face of which is divided into two parts, each either blank or bearing from one to six pips or dots: 28 such pieces form a complete set.
• Domino
  Domino

  noun

  Antoine Fats, 1928–2017, U.S. rhythm-and-blues pianist, singer, and composer.

domino

¹ American  

[dom-uh-noh] / ˈdɒm əˌnoʊ /

noun

• dominoes
  plural

1. a flat, thumbsized, rectangular block, the face of which is divided into two parts, each either blank or bearing from one to six pips or dots: 28 such pieces form a complete set.

2. (used with a singular verb) dominoes, any of various games played with such pieces, usually by matching the ends of pieces and laying the dominoes down in lines and angular patterns.

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domino ² American  

[dom-uh-noh] / ˈdɒm əˌnoʊ /

noun

• dominoes,
  plural
• dominos
  plural

1. a large, hooded cloak with a mask covering the eyes, worn at masquerades.

2. the mask.

3. a person wearing such dress.

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Domino ³ American  

[dom-uh-noh] / ˈdɒm əˌnoʊ /

noun

1. Antoine Fats, 1928–2017, U.S. rhythm-and-blues pianist, singer, and composer.

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domino ¹ British  

/ ˈdɒmɪˌnəʊ /

noun

1. a small rectangular block used in dominoes, divided on one side into two equal areas, each of which is either blank or marked with from one to six dots

2. (modifier) exhibiting the domino effect

   a domino pattern of takeovers

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domino ² British  

/ ˈdɒmɪˌnəʊ /

noun

1. a large hooded cloak worn with an eye mask at a masquerade

2. the eye mask worn with such a cloak

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Domino ³ British  

/ ˈdɒmɪnəʊ /

noun

1. Fats. real name Antoine Domino born 1928, US rhythm-and-blues and rock-and-roll pianist, singer, and songwriter. His singles include "Ain't that a Shame" (1955) and "Blueberry Hill" (1956)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• dominoes
  plural
• dominos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of domino¹

First recorded in 1710–20; perhaps special use of domino ²

Origin of domino²

First recorded in 1710–20; from Italian: “hood and mask costume,” from Medieval Latin or Middle French: “black hood worn by priests in winter”; obscurely akin to Latin dominus “lord, master”

Explanation

A domino is a small rectangular block used in the game dominoes. Each block has anywhere from 0 to 6 dots. A domino is a small, black rectangular game piece with white dots. In the game called dominoes, sides of the dominoes with equal numbers are matched. Dominoes are also stood up to create elaborate patterns that look pretty impressive when they’re knocked down. If you set them up right, knocking down the first domino will knock down hundreds and even thousands of others. This use of dominoes inspired the domino effect, when one action inevitably causes others.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

domino Domino dominoes dominos

“Previous experience shows that once a country introduces restrictions there is a domino effect and that could fuel inflationary pressures,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Once that funding was committed, “it was just a domino effect,” Gipson said, helping attract additional public and private investment.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

In 2006, home prices stopped rising at a rate that allowed overleveraged borrowers to refinance, which led to a domino effect and the crisis, he said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026

Speaking to the social club, it became apparent John was a regular - on one occasion being communicative enough to sell domino cards to another person, all captured on CCTV.

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

“Grade-A jerk, remember? Anyways, about the letter,” I said, and then paused, biting my lip as I considered the domino of events that were already in motion.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

The landmark Domino Sugar factory was gut-renovated and now serves as offices for over 30 A.I. and tech firms.

From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2026

Domino’s is promoting its new single-serve Domino pizzas with a free giveaway for people who first buy competing products like a Big Mac, Whopper or Crunchwrap Supreme.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Brit Award winner Jessie J has sold more than 20 million records and has massive global hits including Price Tag, Domino, and Bang Bang, and newer song Living My Best Life.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2025

“When I was going to school, I wanted to be Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, and I would wear a wig with two plaits and call myself Professor Longhair,” Henry told the AP.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 8, 2024

While Santa put a Fats Domino record on the phonograph, Angelo, sniffling and looking a little confused, sat down on the kitchen chair across from Mrs. Reilly and Mr. Robichaux.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Morris and his assistants have invested time in teaching players to play dominoes and spades.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

"When emergency surgery goes, other dominoes fall following that," she said.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

The exiles, who hang paintings of their activist heroes at Chagos Refugees Group headquarters in Pointe aux Sables and slap down dominoes outside of the Chagos Boutique in Tombeau Bay, have tried to fight back.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026

Neighbors sat at plastic tables on the sidewalk, playing dominoes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 20, 2026

“You have a row of dominoes set up,” said President Dwight Eisenhower.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

This process can be compared to falling dominos, but it is far more complex.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 29, 2025

"It's an absolute mess, especially when there's wind and the barriers collapse like dominos, creating even more risk," he added.

From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2025

All-time temperature records fell like dominos throughout the region.

From Scientific American ● Jul. 11, 2023

The dominos have fallen for Domino’s Pizza in Italy.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 10, 2022

According to the Domino Theory, which dominated American foreign policy during the Cold War, countries were like dominos standing on end.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• camouflage
• cloak
• veil