Definition of dominant

The word "dominant" originates from the Latin word "dominans," which means "ruling" or "master." It is derived from the verb "dominari," which means "to rule" or "to have power over." In the 15th century, the Latin "dominans" was borrowed into Middle English as "dominant," initially referring to something that has control or mastery over something else. In the 17th century, the term began to take on a new meaning in the context of biology. In the study of genetics, "dominant" referred to an allele (a variant of a gene) that has a masking effect on other alleles. If an organism has one dominant allele and one recessive allele, the dominant allele will be expressed. Today, the word "dominant" has a broader range of meanings, including referring to something that has control, power, or influence over others.