PREPONDERANCE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does preponderance mean? 

• PREPONDERANCE (noun)
  The noun PREPONDERANCE has 3 senses:

1. superiority in power or influence

2. a superiority in numbers or amount

3. exceeding in heaviness; having greater weight

  Familiarity information: PREPONDERANCE used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PREPONDERANCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Superiority in power or influence

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the preponderance of wealth and power

Hypernyms ("preponderance" is a kind of...):

power; powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)

Derivation:

preponderant (having superior power and influence)

preponderate (weigh more heavily)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A superiority in numbers or amount

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

preponderance; prevalence

Context example:

a preponderance of evidence against the defendant

Hypernyms ("preponderance" is a kind of...):

figure; number (the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals)

Derivation:

preponderate (weigh more heavily)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Exceeding in heaviness; having greater weight

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the least preponderance in either pan will unbalance the scale

Hypernyms ("preponderance" is a kind of...):

heaviness; weightiness (the property of being comparatively great in weight)

Derivation:

preponderate (weigh more heavily)

 Context examples 

But he was twice the man the rest were, and his last night's victory had given him a huge preponderance on their minds.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The preponderance of Capricorn planets might have the effect of putting out your fire, but don’t let it.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The order of the English letters after E is by no means well marked, and any preponderance which may be shown in an average of a printed sheet may be reversed in a single short sentence.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)