sphere of influence

American  

noun

• spheres of influence
  plural

1. any area in which one nation wields dominant power over another or others.

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sphere of influence British  

noun

1. a region of the world in which one state is dominant

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• spheres of influence
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of sphere of influence

First recorded in 1880–85

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sphere of influence

The resulting maps traced gas motion deep within the black hole's sphere of influence.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 18, 2026

Moscow has reacted sharply to the prospect of losing another ally in what it sees as its sphere of influence.

From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026

And the Southeastern Conference has expanded its sphere of influence to include Austin, Texas, and Norman, Okla.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 8, 2025

The Monroe Doctrine dates back to the U.S. president in 1823 who articulated his opposition to further European colonization of Latin America which he asserted would henceforth be a U.S. sphere of influence.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2025

Then, from all corners of Hrothgar’s sphere of influence and from towns beyond—the vassals’ vassals—an army began to form.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

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