n.
Pronunciation: -n ə nt
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin dominant-, dominans, present participle of dominari
Date: circa 1532
1 a : commanding, controlling, or prevailing over all others <the dominant culture> b : very important, powerful, or successful <a dominant theme> <a dominant industry>
2 : overlooking and commanding from a superior position <a dominant hill>
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 < dominant eye>
– dom · i · nant · ly adverb
synonyms 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>.