What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
empire
Example
The Roman Empire was one of the most powerful empires in history. [empire: noun]
Example
The entertainment empire that Disney has built is truly impressive. [empire: noun]
Example
She built an empire from scratch with her successful startup. [empire: noun]
kingdom
Example
The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. [kingdom: noun]
Example
The animal kingdom is one of the major categories in biological classification. [kingdom: noun]
Example
The ancient kingdom of Egypt was ruled by pharaohs for thousands of years. [kingdom: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Kingdom is more commonly used than empire in everyday language, particularly in the context of history and biology. Empire is less common and tends to be used in more formal or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between empire and kingdom?
Empire is generally considered more formal and academic than kingdom, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.