ascendancy

Also as·cend·ance,
Or as·cend·en·cy

[uh-sen-duhn-see]

noun

1. the state of being in the ascendant; governing or controlling influence; domination.

   Synonyms: supremacy, sovereignty, preeminence, predominance, hegemony, dominion, dominance

ascendancy

/ əˈsɛndəns, əˈsɛndənsɪ /

noun

1. the condition of being dominant, esp through superior economic or political power

Other Word Forms

• nonascendance noun
• nonascendancy noun
• nonascendence noun
• nonascendency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascendancy¹

First recorded in 1705–15; ascend(ant) + -ancy

Example Sentences

“A party that is in its ascendancy, a party that’s on its toes, no longer on its heels.”

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The shift returns Syria to the ascendancy of its Sunni Arab majority.

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And Democrats in Congress seem worried about the implications of his ascendancy as party tensions between moderates and progressives persist.

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“The impression that the Hichilema administration is kowtowing to foreign interests gives the opposition something to sink their teeth into at a time when it needs to regain the ascendancy and mount a serious challenge.”

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At any time, one strain will be in the ascendancy and be the most likely to cause trouble in winter.

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Related Words

• dominance 
• predominance