dominion

American  

[duh-min-yuhn] / dəˈmɪn yən /

noun

1. the power or right of governing and controlling; sovereign authority.

2. rule; control; domination.

3. a territory, usually of considerable size, in which a single rulership holds sway.

4. lands or domains subject to sovereignty or control.

5. Government. a territory constituting a self-governing commonwealth and being one of a number of such territories united in a community of nations, or empire: formerly applied to self-governing divisions of the British Empire, as Canada and New Zealand.

6. Theology. dominions, domination.

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dominion British  

/ dəˈmɪnjən /

noun

1. rule; authority

2. the land governed by one ruler or government

3. sphere of influence; area of control

4. a name formerly applied to self-governing divisions of the British Empire

5. New Zealand

6. law a less common word for dominium

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Other Word Forms

• interdominion adjective
• self-dominion noun

Etymology

Origin of dominion

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin dominiōn- (unrecorded), stem of dominiō (unrecorded) “lordship,” from Latin domin(ium) dominium + -iō -ion

Example Sentences

And that dominion over the means of app distribution rankles other tech heavyweights who are trying to find ways to control their own destiny, including Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman and Elon Musk.

From The Wall Street Journal

As new territories were brought into the empire by alliance or conquest, they were added to the network, facilitating communication, public works and military movements, and providing a potent reminder of Inca dominion.

From The Wall Street Journal

The change was a dramatic departure from the archetype of the all-powerful football coach, whose dominion extended from the playbook to high-school recruiting.

From The Wall Street Journal

He developed it into a call for dominion.

From Salon

Who knows whether we’re at the head or tail of the Anthropocene, but the movie seems weary of our dominion.

From Los Angeles Times