prepotent
Americanadjective
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preeminent in power, authority, or influence; predominant.
a prepotent name in the oil business.
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Genetics. noting, pertaining to, or having prepotency.
adjective
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greater in power, force, or influence
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biology showing prepotency
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prepotent
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin praepotent- (stem of praepotēns ), present participle of praeposse to have greater power. See pre-, potent 1
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.
Without these most prepotent needs met, people do not even get an opportunity for further growth as a human.
From Scientific American ● Sep. 24, 2017
Perhaps not since the full-blown Garbo has the old world offered to the new such a prepotent image of the eternal feminine as can be seen in the mysteriously soulful face of Maria Schell.
From Time Magazine Archive
Since Beauty is much, and grace is much, and mien and demeanor and wit; but a prepotent and psychic essence there is transcending the power of these.
From Hints for Lovers by Haultain, T. Arnold (Theodore Arnold)
When distinct species are crossed the case is directly the reverse, for a plant's own pollen is always prepotent over foreign pollen; but to this subject we shall return in a future chapter.
From On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. (2nd edition) by Darwin, Charles
In this latter case the progeny both of crossed species and varieties retain for a long period a tendency to revert to their ancestors, especially to that one which is prepotent in transmission.
From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. I by Darwin, Charles
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.
