dominant

8 definitions • 18 examples

more important, strong, or noticeable than anything else of the same type:

a dominant military power

dominant issue Unemployment will be a dominant issue at the next election.

dominant position The company's competitors say it abuses its dominant position to prevent them from expanding.

dominant force This country remains a dominant force in scientific research.

A dominant gene is one that always produces a particular characteristic in a person, plant, or animal:

The gene for brown eyes is dominant.

A dominant part of the body is used more or has more effect than a body part of the same type on the other side of the body:

Hold the tool in your dominant hand.

It depends which hemisphere of the brain is dominant.

liking to take control in a group and having natural authority:

dominant male The females breed with dominant males that establish and defend territories.

dominant personality You can have a dominant personality without being a bully.

of or relating to a note that is the fifth note in a diatonic scale (= a musical scale that is either major or minor):

dominant chord In most pop music, the verse sections of a song often end with a dominant chord.

dominant note Make the dominant note of the chord a little longer and louder than the others.

a note that is the fifth note in a diatonic scale (= a musical scale that is either major or minor):

The piece features one of those marvellous Schubert chord progressions that is technically a short string of secondary dominants.

The dominant is five notes above the tonic, and the subdominant is five notes below the tonic.

more important, strong, or noticeable than anything else of the same type:

a dominant personality

For years the Democrats were the dominant party in Congress.

more important, powerful, or successful than other people, companies, etc.:

The question was whether cable or wireless would become dominant.

dominant force/player For a long time Detroit was the dominant force in the American car industry.

dominant market share/position The company is well run, with a dominant market share in many snack-food categories.