dominion

/dəˈmɪnjən/ (bre, ipa) · /dəˈmɪnjən/ (ame, ipa) · /də-ˈmi-nyən/ (ame, mw)

dominion — noun

  • dominionsingular
  • dominionsplural

1. the right or power to rule people or land and make decisions for them

1.名詞C1
釋義

the right or power to rule people or land and make decisions for them

例句

For centuries, the empire claimed dominion over the islands and their ports.

dominion over + place

The old king feared losing dominion over the northern border towns.

同義詞
  • sovereignty

    more specific to the highest legal power of a state

  • authority

    broader and much more common in everyday situations

  • rule

    can describe the period or act of governing, not just the power itself

反義詞
  • self-rule

    focuses on people governing themselves instead of being ruled by another power

  • freedom

    emphasizes being free from outside control

文法句型

have dominion over [people/place]

exercise dominion over [people/place]

用法筆記

Usually followed by over. Common in legal, religious, and historical writing rather than in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌The coach has dominion over the team schedule.
✅The coach has authority over the team schedule.
💡'dominion' sounds too grand and political for ordinary management.
❌The country showed dominion on its people.
✅The country showed dominion over its people.
💡this sense normally takes the preposition 'over'.

2. a land or region that belongs to and is ruled by one ruler or government

2.名詞C1
釋義

a land or region that belongs to and is ruled by one ruler or government

例句

The map showed each duke's dominion in a different color.

possessive + dominion

Traders crossed from one dominion to another without stopping at the river.

one dominion to another

同義詞
  • territory

    the usual modern word for land under political control

  • realm

    often sounds literary and may suggest a kingdom

  • domain

    more formal and can also be used figuratively

文法句型

a dominion

one dominion to another

用法筆記

Often used in historical writing for land ruled by a monarch or empire. Distinguish it from sense 1, which names the power to rule rather than the land itself.

常見錯誤

❌He bought a dominion outside the city.
✅He bought land outside the city.
💡this sense refers to a political territory, not an ordinary piece of property.

3. a self-governing country in the old British Commonwealth that still recognized t

3.名詞C2
釋義

a self-governing country in the old British Commonwealth that still recognized the king or queen of Britain as its official head

例句

Canada was once called a dominion within the British Commonwealth.

historical term for Commonwealth country

The history teacher explained why New Zealand was known as a dominion.

文法句型

a dominion within the British Commonwealth

the Dominion of [country]

用法筆記

This historical term is specific to former self-governing countries in the British Commonwealth. In modern general English, speakers usually name the country instead of calling it a dominion.

常見錯誤

❌Canada is a dominion today.
✅Canada was once called a dominion.
💡this use is mainly historical now.