dynasty
Americannoun
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a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group.
the Ming dynasty.
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the rule of such a sequence.
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a series of members of a family who are distinguished for their success, wealth, etc.
noun
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a sequence of hereditary rulers
an Egyptian dynasty
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any sequence of powerful leaders of the same family
the Kennedy dynasty
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of dynasty
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin dynastīa, from Greek dynasteia; see dynast, -y 3
Explanation
A dynasty is a series of leaders in the same family, like the British Royal Family, or a local business dynasty, in which four generations have made their fortune at the family store. The word dynasty, pronounced "DIE-nas-tee," comes from the Greek word dynasteia, meaning "power, lordship, sovereignty." If you are part of a dynasty, you probably do have power — and also wealth, privilege. But there is also pressure to achieve as much as your parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Another kind of dynasty is found in sports — a team that wins many championships is a dynasty.
Vocabulary lists containing dynasty
Persepolis
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Ancient Egypt - Introductory
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East Asia - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Comedy transcends lines and borders, so when we heard that comedian Mike Ward hopped his own border in Canada to be at Dynasty Typewriter, we were all in.
From Los Angeles Times • May 13, 2026
Appeared in the April 22, 2026, print edition as 'Following a Feline Dynasty in India'.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
"It was a stunning rebuke by the NFL," said Wickersham, author of New York Times bestseller It's Better to be Feared: The New England Patriots Dynasty and the Pursuit of Greatness.
From BBC • Jan. 28, 2026
Established in 1842 during the Qing Dynasty, the Sun Rise Company was founded by the Yau family in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou.
From Barron's • Dec. 27, 2025
The recorded history of China’s Zhou Dynasty, from 1100 to 221 B.C., describes the conquest and absorption of most of China’s non-Chinese-speaking population by Chinese-speaking states.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
