[dom.i.nant] adj [MF or L; MF, fr. L dominant-, dominans, prp. of dominari] (ca. 1532) 1: commanding, controlling, or prevailing over all others
2: overlooking and commanding from a superior position
3: of, relating to, or exerting ecological or genetic dominance
4: being the one of a pair of bodily structures that is the more effective or predominant in action "~ eye" -- dom.i.nant.ly adv syn dominant, predominant, paramount, preponderant mean superior to all others in influence or importance. dominant applies to something that is uppermost because ruling or controlling "a dominant social class". predominant applies to something that exerts, often temporarily, the most marked influence "a predominant emotion". paramount implies supremacy in importance, rank, or jurisdiction "unemployment was the paramount issue in the campaign". preponderant applies to an element or factor that outweighs all others in influence or effect "preponderant evidence in her favor".
[2]dominant n (1819) 1: the fifth tone of a diatonic scale
2. a: a dominant genetic character or factor b: any of one or more kinds of organism (as a species) in an ecological community that exerts a controlling influence on the environment and thereby largely determines what other kinds of organisms are present c: a dominant individual in a social hierarchy