preponderance
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of preponderance
First recorded in 1675–85; preponder(ant) + -ance
Explanation
If there's a preponderance of something, there is A LOT of it. If you are a prosecutor, you are looking for a preponderance of evidence to convince the jury that the defendant is guilty. The noun preponderance can also mean "superiority in weight or significance." This meaning is particularly reflective of the word's Latin roots in the word praeponderare, which means "outweigh." The noun can also mean "superiority in influence or importance." A country's economic preponderance, for example, might give it greater influence in international relations.
Vocabulary lists containing preponderance
300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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100 SAT words Beginning with "P"
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National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 3
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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.
Preponderance of the evidence means that they just have to prove that it was more likely than not that you drove under suspicion.
From Encyclopedia.com • Jun. 26, 2018
Preponderance of the evidence is a typical civil-suit standard.
From Slate • Nov. 5, 2015
Preponderance of the evidence is a common standard for civil liability, used for civil protection orders in domestic violence cases, for example.
From Slate • Jun. 6, 2014
Preponderance of artillery forced the retreat through Galicia, and in an incredibly short time Jaroslaw, Przemysl, and Lemberg were again in the hands of the Teutons and Galicia practically cleared of the Russian invaders.
From New York Times Current History; The European War, Vol 2, No. 5, August, 1915 by Various
S Preponderance of, in Upper Canada, 159, 160.
From The Makers of Canada: Index and Dictionary of Canadian History by Various
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.
