dominion

Dominion means power or rule over a place, a group of people, or a particular area of life. You can think of a king's dominion as the land under his control, where his authority is accepted. The word usually suggests strong, lasting control rather than a brief moment of influence.

It also has an old religious use, where it refers to God's rule over the world. In modern English, it often appears in formal or historical writing about nations, empires, and political power. It can also be used more generally for mastery, as when someone tries to gain dominion over their fears or desires.

Dominion is a formal word for power, rule, or control, especially over land, people, or a defined sphere. At its most basic, it refers to the area or field that falls under someone's authority. If a ruler has dominion over a region, that region is under that ruler's government or command. The word often carries a sense of firm and recognized power, not just casual influence.

Historically, dominion was often used in political, legal, and religious language. In religious writing, it can describe God's rule over creation. In history, it often appears when people talk about kingdoms, empires, colonization, or the extension of state power into new territories. Because of this background, the word still sounds weighty and formal in modern English.

The meaning can also stretch beyond governments and borders. Someone may speak of having dominion over their temper, their fears, or their desires, meaning they have learned to control them. In that sense, the word points to mastery of the self. More broadly, it can describe control within a particular field, though this use is less common than the political, territorial, or religious ones.

The word usually suggests more than simple possession. It points to active rule, the right to govern, or the ability to direct what happens within a certain space. Whether it is used for a kingdom, a colony, a divine power, or a person's inner life, dominion describes strong authority exercised over something within clear limits.