sphere of influence

American  

noun

plural

spheres of influence

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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Etymology

Origin of sphere of influence

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

The next major milestone is expected overnight Sunday into Monday, at which point the astronauts will enter the "lunar sphere of influence," where the Moon's gravity will have stronger pull on the spacecraft than Earth's.

From Barron's • Apr. 5, 2026

But while ties date back to the Cold War, Angola has been gradually drifting away from Russia's sphere of influence.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Across Iran’s sphere of influence Christian communities have experienced demographic collapse.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 11, 2026

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

She seized the opportunity to show off her wealth and gain a wider sphere of influence in the eastern provinces.

From "Sterling Biographies®: Cleopatra: Egypt's Last and Greatest Queen" by Susan Blackaby