Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

dominant trait

Cultural  
  1. In genetics, a trait that will appear in the offspring if one of the parents contributes it. (Compare recessive trait.)


Discover More

In humans, dark hair is a dominant trait; if one parent contributes a gene for dark hair and the other contributes a gene for light hair, the child will have dark hair.

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.

A single dominant trait can reshape competition and alter the balance within a species in a short time.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

An example of a dominant trait is the violet-flower trait.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

And the pattern of tusklessness in families confirmed the scientists’ hunch: It seems to be a dominant trait, carried by females, that is lethal to males.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 21, 2021

Jackassuredness: The dominant trait of that braggart at the bar.

From Washington Post • Aug. 15, 2019

His dominant trait was clearly the remnant of still earlier days, because I’ve never seen such staring solemnity as Fyne’s except in a very young baby. 

From Chance A Tale in Two Parts by Conrad, Joseph