Dominant

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈdÉ’mɪnÉ™nt/
• GenAm IPA: /ˈdÉ‘mÉ™nÉ™nt/

Origin

From Middle French dominant.

Full definition of dominant

Noun

1. (music) The fifth major tone of a musical scale (five major steps above the note in question); thus G is the dominant of C, A of D, and so on.
2. (music) The triad built on the dominant tone.
3. (BDSM) The dominating partner in sadomasochistic sexual activity.
• 2011, Jayne Rylon, Mistress's Master (page 65)His story was a fable you told dominants in training to stress the importance of comprehending the depths of your submissive's needs.

Adjective

1. Ruling; governing; prevailing; controlling.The dominant party controlled the government.
• MacaulayThe member of a dominant race is, in his dealings with the subject race, seldom indeed fraudulent, ... but imperious, insolent, and cruel.
2. Predominant, common, prevalent, of greatest importance.The dominant plants of the Carboniferous were lycopods and early conifers.
• 2009, H. Stephen Stoker, General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, page 10All other elements are mere "impurities" when their abundances are compared with those of these two dominant elements.

Synonyms

• (ruling, governing) imposing
• (predominant, common) prevalent

Antonyms

• (ruling) obedient, submissive (one who obeys); defiant, rebellious (one who defys)