What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dominant
Example
The dominant political party won the election by a large margin. [dominant: adjective]
Example
Her dominant personality made her a natural leader. [dominant: adjective]
Example
The gene for brown eyes is dominant over the gene for blue eyes. [dominant: noun]
ruling
Example
The ruling party implemented new policies to address economic issues. [ruling: adjective]
Example
The judge issued a ruling in favor of the plaintiff. [ruling: noun]
Example
During the ruling of King Henry VIII, England underwent significant changes in religion and politics. [ruling: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ruling is more commonly used than dominant in everyday language, particularly in political and legal contexts. Dominant is more commonly used in scientific or biological contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dominant and ruling?
Both dominant and ruling can be used in formal and informal contexts, but ruling is more commonly used in formal contexts due to its association with legal and political systems.
