predominance

American  

[pri-dom-uh-nuhns] / prɪˈdɒm ə nəns /

Sometimes predominancy

noun

1. the state, condition, or quality of being predominant.

   the predominance of rich people over poor people.

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Etymology

Origin of predominance

First recorded in 1595–1605; predomin(ant) + -ance

Explanation

Use the noun predominance to describe whatever is most noticeable, like the predominance of a gigantic television screen in a small living room. When you notice that the word dominance makes up a big chunk of predominance, it won’t surprise you to learn that predominance is used to say that something exerts a strong influence and dominates. Sometimes that influence comes because of sheer numbers, such as a predominance of women in the teaching profession, but it can also result from superior power, such as a nation’s military predominance.

Example Sentences

“On the Predominance of Spiral Forms among the Nebulæ,” A. N., 3601.

From Photographs of Nebul? and Clusters Made with the Crossley Reflector by Keeler, James Edward

Predominance, precedence, pre-eminence, might have satisfied it for a time; but, from the nature of our institutions, that was impossible.

From History of Woman Suffrage, Volume II by Stanton, Elizabeth Cady

See Asa Gray, "Scientific Papers," 1889, Volume II., page 235, on "The Pertinacity and Predominance of Weeds," where the view here given is adopted.

From More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 1 by Darwin, Francis, Sir

Predominance denotes "ascendency," "a superiority in strength or influence," "an over-ruling."

From Practical Exercises in English by Buehler, Huber Gray

Predominance of the worship of the dead, 297 sq.

From The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead, Volume I (of 3) The Belief Among the Aborigines of Australia, the Torres Straits Islands, New Guinea and Melanesia by Frazer, James George, Sir

Related Words

• preponderance