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

Etymology

Origin of sphere of influence

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sphere of influence

Moscow had resisted that arrangement for more than a decade, wary of China’s expanding footprint in territory it has long considered its sphere of influence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 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

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

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