predominance

American  

[pri-dom-uh-nuhns] / prɪˈdɒm ə nəns /

Sometimes predominancy

noun

1. the state, condition, or quality of being predominant.

   the predominance of rich people over poor people.

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Etymology

Origin of predominance

First recorded in 1595–1605; predomin(ant) + -ance

Explanation

Use the noun predominance to describe whatever is most noticeable, like the predominance of a gigantic television screen in a small living room. When you notice that the word dominance makes up a big chunk of predominance, it won’t surprise you to learn that predominance is used to say that something exerts a strong influence and dominates. Sometimes that influence comes because of sheer numbers, such as a predominance of women in the teaching profession, but it can also result from superior power, such as a nation’s military predominance.

Example Sentences

It has given Place to the Predominance of Vision largely because in Civilized Man it Fails to Act at a Distance.

From Studies in the Psychology of Sex, Volume 4 Sexual Selection In Man by Ellis, Havelock

“On the Predominance of Spiral Forms among the Nebulæ,” A. N., 3601.

From Photographs of Nebul? and Clusters Made with the Crossley Reflector by Keeler, James Edward

Predominance in all Ages of uniform Continental Movements over    those by which the Rocks are locally convulsed.

From The Antiquity of Man by Lyell, Charles, Sir

Dutch Predominance is the cry now, but the scales turn easily, and it may be English Predominance to-morrow.

From The Rhodesian by Page, Gertrude

See Asa Gray, "Scientific Papers," 1889, Volume II., page 235, on "The Pertinacity and Predominance of Weeds," where the view here given is adopted.

From More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 1 by Darwin, Francis, Sir

Related Words

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