I. -nənt adjective
Etymology: Middle French predominant, from Medieval Latin praedominant-, praedominans, present participle of praedominari to predominate, from Latin prae- pre- + dominari to rule, govern — more at dominate
: holding an ascendancy : having superior strength, influence, authority, or position : controlling , dominating , prevailing
the town and the school district were the predominant governmental units — Margie Malmberg
could yield to the pressure of a predominant self-interest — J.L.Motley
Synonyms: see dominant
II. noun
1. : one that predominates
2. : an organism occupying a position of marked importance in an ecological community without being a true dominant ; especially : a vertebrate holding a conspicuous position in a predominantly plant community
the buffalo constituted a true predominant on the western grass lands