a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor, empress, or other powerful sovereign or government: usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom, as the former British Empire, French Empire, Russian Empire, Byzantine Empire, or Roman Empire.
a government under an emperor or empress.
(often initial capital letter) the historical period during which a nation is under such a government.
a history of the second French empire.
supreme power in governing; imperial power; sovereignty.
The legacy of empire is complex, and always entwined with colonialism and nationalism.
supreme control; absolute sway.
passion's empire over the mind.
a powerful and important enterprise or holding of large scope that is controlled by a single person, family, or group of associates.
The family's shipping empire was founded 50 years ago.
(initial capital letter) a variety of apple somewhat resembling the McIntosh.
(initial capital letter) characteristic of or developed during the first French Empire, 1804–15.
(usually initial capital letter) (of women's attire and coiffures) of the style that prevailed during the first French Empire, in clothing being characterized especially by décolletage and a high waistline, coming just below the bust, from which the skirt hangs straight and loose.
(often initial capital letter) noting or pertaining to the style of architecture, furnishings, and decoration prevailing in France and imitated to a greater or lesser extent in various other countries, c1800–30: characterized by the use of delicate but elaborate ornamentation imitated from Greek and Roman examples or containing classical allusions, as animal forms for the legs of furniture, bas-reliefs of classical figures, motifs of wreaths, torches, caryatids, lyres, and urns and by the occasional use of military and Egyptian motifs and, under the Napoleonic Empire itself, of symbols alluding to Napoleon I, as bees or the letter N.
See British Empire
French history
the period of imperial rule in France from 1804 to 1815 under Napoleon Bonaparte
Also called: Second Empire. the period from 1852 to 1870 when Napoleon III ruled as emperor
denoting, characteristic of, or relating to the British Empire
denoting, characteristic of, or relating to either French Empire, esp the first: in particular, denoting the neoclassical style of architecture and furniture and the high-waisted style of women's dresses characteristic of the period
an aggregate of peoples and territories, often of great extent, under the rule of a single person, oligarchy, or sovereign state
any monarchy that for reasons of history, prestige, etc, has an emperor rather than a king as head of state
the period during which a particular empire exists
supreme power; sovereignty
a large industrial organization with many ramifications, esp a multinational corporation
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin imperium “mastery, sovereignty, empire”; see empery
An empire is a group of countries or territories that are under the control of a single entity but it can be used figuratively too. She rules her cosmetics empire well, with a solid knowledge of lipsticks, eye shadows, and more. Have you ever heard the phrase, “The sun never sets on the British Empire?” This came about because during the 1800s countries in every time zone around the globe were ruled by England, and it was always daytime in one of them. Although other empires have existed back through time to the original Roman Empire, perhaps the most well-known empire today comes from the popular Star Wars films in which the rebels fight Darth Vader and his evil Empire.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Among his first goals is to “outspend” both of his primary competitors, Disney and Netflix—even as his media empire faces down a multibillion-dollar debt load and a cratering stock price.
From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026
While Wall Street is divided on when Musk will actually push to combine the crown jewels of his empire, Nelson thinks there’s a 90% chance it happens by the end of next year.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
US televangelist Jim Bakker, who built a multimillion-dollar media empire before being jailed for fraud and conspiracy, has died aged 86.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Discovery will be called Skydance — the moniker he picked nearly two decades ago when the tech scion began building his Hollywood empire.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
Havel had said that people struggling for independence wanted money and recognition from other countries; they wanted more criticism of the Soviet empire from the West and more diplomatic pressure.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
In 2022, a bilateral commission recommended to present Samuel as the head of a state that "most contemporary historiographers consider to be the Bulgarian Empire", based in what is currently North Macedonia.
From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026
The German Empire emerged as a hegemon, nominally recognizing the independence of Belarus, Lithuania and Ukraine while keeping them under military occupation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
The tree was planted in the late 1800s and became a much-loved visitor destination and landmark at the former frontier of the Roman Empire.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
In the San Diego forecast area, which also includes Orange County and most of the Inland Empire, cloud cover also willincrease, resulting in cooler temperatures that will make the humidity easier to tolerate, Zuber said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 24, 2026
What was left of the old Russian Empire would become known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics—the USSR, or Soviet Union.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
She knows little about the developments unfolding in the boardroom of the Tata group, one of India's oldest and most influential business empires that makes everything from salt to software.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
Little did Russia and Germany know they were forming the kernels of nation-states that would outlast their own empires.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Lebanon is brimming with archaeological finds showcasing its rich history over thousands of years, from the Phoenician, Persian, Roman and Byzantine periods, the Crusades, and Arab and Islamic sultanates and empires.
From Barron's ● Aug. 29, 2026
You’re both from the Midwest, you both dropped out of college, and you both have built these political media empires.
From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026
Territorial empires are tightly controlled but costly to maintain; hegemonic empires are inexpensive to maintain, because the original local rulers incur the costs of administration, but the loose tie between master and vassal encourages rebellion.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
