dynasty

[ dahy-nuh-stee; British also din-uh-stee ]

noun

, plural dy·nas·ties.

1. a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group:

   the Ming dynasty.

2. the rule of such a sequence.
3. a series of members of a family who are distinguished for their success, wealth, etc.

dynasty

/ dɪˈnæstɪk; ˈdɪnəstɪ /

noun

1. a sequence of hereditary rulers

   an Egyptian dynasty

2. any sequence of powerful leaders of the same family

   the Kennedy dynasty

Derived Forms

• dynastic, adjective
• dyˈnastically, adverb

Other Words From

• dy·nas·tic [dahy-, nas, -tik, dih-, nas, -tik], dy·nas·ti·cal adjective
• an·ti·dy·nas·ty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dynasty¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin dynastīa, from Greek dynasteia; dynast, -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of dynasty¹

C15: via Late Latin from Greek dunasteia, from dunastēs dynast

Example Sentences

Tom Brady walked away from a 20-year dynasty with the New England Patriots — and just won another Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.

From Washington Post

The Celtics of that era remain one of the most storied dynasties in sports history.

From Washington Post

Of course, these schools found that returning to dynasty status simply required hiring another championship-level coach, as Oklahoma did with Bob Stoops, Alabama did with Nick Saban and Ohio State did with Meyer.

From FiveThirtyEight

By the 1980s, buffets ruled the landscape like family dynasties, with sister chains the Ponderosa and the Bonanza spreading the gospel of sneeze guards and steaks, sundae stations and salad bars along the interstates.

From Eater

Family political dynasties are hardly unusual in American politics.

From FiveThirtyEight

Because Duck Dynasty receives monster TV ratings and Robertson paid by a company (A&E) while making these public statements.

From The Daily Beast

The Leakeys—Richard, his parents, Louis and Mary, and his wife Maeve and daughter Louise, are an archaeological dynasty.

From The Daily Beast

Héctor Beltrán Leyva is the last in a line of brothers who built a drug cartel into a family dynasty.

From The Daily Beast

So many people tell me the appeal of Duck Dynasty is that it reflects what life is like in “real America.”

From The Daily Beast

CNN did the helpful translation for us, though: Duck Dynasty was simply too profitable for A&E to halt filming.

From The Daily Beast

He remembered how decorous and dignified was the Mogul court when Britain paid honor to an ancient dynasty.

From Project Gutenberg

These Cupids must have been erected in the time of the Dutch dynasty, as I judge from the immense posterior developments.

From Project Gutenberg

The Persian era began, recording the fall of the Sassanian dynasty, and the religion of Zoroaster.

From Project Gutenberg

The Bourbon dynasty reduced brigandage very much, and secured order on the main high-roads.

From Project Gutenberg

To allow the heiress to the Crown to marry a Carlist seemed the surest way to reopen civil war, and upset the dynasty once more.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• regime
• reign
• rule