dynasty
Americannoun
plural
dynasties-
a sequence of rulers from the same family, stock, or group.
the Ming dynasty.
-
the rule of such a sequence.
-
a series of members of a family who are distinguished for their success, wealth, etc.
noun
-
a sequence of hereditary rulers
an Egyptian dynasty
-
any sequence of powerful leaders of the same family
the Kennedy dynasty
Other Word Forms
- antidynasty adjective
- dynastic adjective
- dynastical adjective
- dynastically adverb
Etymology
Origin of dynasty
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English, from Late Latin dynastīa, from Greek dynasteia; dynast, -y 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Before he arrived at Arizona in 2021, Lloyd worked as an assistant at Gonzaga, where his duties included recruiting the big men that powered the Bulldogs’ mid-major dynasty.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
Amazingly, the Mets did win, but characteristically, they failed to found a dynasty.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is the scion of a construction dynasty and a hobbyist jet pilot, but championed Thailand's decriminalisation of cannabis and styles himself as a man of the people.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
"We cannot think of North Korea with our logic. We must imagine them as the Joseon dynasty," Song says, referring to a medieval Korean kingdom.
From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026
He was here to settle, to found a home, a family, perhaps a dynasty.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
