domination
Americannoun
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an act or instance of dominating.
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rule or sway; control, often arbitrary.
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Theology. dominations, one of the nine orders of celestial attendants of God.
noun
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the act of dominating or state of being dominated
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authority; rule; control
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of domination
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dominātiōn-, stem of dominātiō “mastery, rule,” from domināt(us) “controlled” (past participle of domināre “to master, control”; see dominate) + -iō -ion; replacing Middle English dominacioun, from Anglo-French
Explanation
Domination means total control. Most comic book villains — and a few real people, too — spend their lives in pursuit of world domination. Domination comes from the Latin word dominus, meaning "master" or "lord." This word conveys the idea not just of leadership, but of absolute, unchallengeable authority. So, just because your boss is in charge of the office doesn’t mean she engages in domination. Wait until she forces you to remove hundreds of staples by hand while she sends your coworker all the way to Costa Rica to fetch the coffee. But we hope it never comes to that.
Vocabulary lists containing domination
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 4
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Franklin Roosevelt, "Four Freedoms" (1941)
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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.
With the ongoing domination of streaming services, many local stations are struggling to compete and maintain viewership.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
Aside from a thirst for world domination, Hitler could explain his attacks on other Europeans in various ways.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
Some Celtic fans - and plenty outside the club - feel the criticism levelled at those in charge is unfair given their domination of Scottish football for 20 years.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
When the PCC was born in August 1993 inside the grimy walls of the Taubaté high-security prison in São Paulo state, its founders weren’t seeking world domination.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026
Her superior attitude, her mind games, her domination of the 400-meter.
From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
