Empire

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /ˈɛmpaɪə/
• GenAm IPA: /ˈɛmpaɪɚ/
• Hyphenation: em + pire

Origin

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin imperium, inperium ("command, control, dominion, sovereignty, a dominion, empire"), from imperare, inperare ("to command, order"), from in ("in, on") + parare ("to make ready, order").

Full definition of empire

Noun

1. A political unit having an extensive territory or comprising a number of territories or nations and ruled by a single supreme authority.
2. A group of states or other territories that owe allegiance to a foreign power.
3. A state ruled by an emperor.
4. An expansive and wealthy corporation.the McDonald's fast food empire

Related terms

• emperor
• imperial
• imperium

Derived terms

Anagrams

• epimer, E-Prime, premie