prepotent

[pree-poht-nt]

adjective

1. preeminent in power, authority, or influence; predominant.

   a prepotent name in the oil business.

2. Genetics.,  noting, pertaining to, or having prepotency.

Other Word Forms

• prepotently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prepotent¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin praepotent- (stem of praepotēns ), present participle of praeposse to have greater power. See pre-, potent ¹

Example Sentences

Without these most prepotent needs met, people do not even get an opportunity for further growth as a human.

From Scientific American

An apparently blended character or a prepotent character may on analysis turn out to be due to the inheritance of a certain proportion of minuter characters derived exclusively from either parent.

From Project Gutenberg

If a father is prepotent, he may have a greater effect in producing the formed child than the mother has, and vice versa, as when a son closely resembles his father or his mother.

From Project Gutenberg

Such Dominants are a bi-sexual species in which the male is prepotent.

From Project Gutenberg

And, of course, the more primitive a type is, the more prepotent it is.

From Project Gutenberg