noun Common

Dominican

duh-MIHN-ih-kuhn

Dominican (noun) means a person from the Dominican Republic. Example: “Many Dominicans in the diaspora send money home to relatives.”

noun

A person from the Dominican Republic.

"Many Dominicans in the diaspora send money home to relatives."

A member of the Dominican religious order, a Catholic order of friars founded by Saint Dominic.

"The Dominicans became known for their scholarship and preaching."

adj

Relating to the Dominican Republic or its people.

"Dominican cuisine makes heavy use of rice, beans, and plantains."

How to use Dominican

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither someone/something from the Dominican Republic, or a friar belonging to the Dominican Catholic order.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "Dominica," a separate, smaller Caribbean island nation — a "Dominican" from Dominica is technically called a "Dominican" too, but context usually makes clear which country is meant.

Word forms

more Dominican comparative, more Dominican comparative, more Dominican comparative, Dominicans plural, Dominicans plural, Dominicans plural, most Dominican superlative, most Dominican superlative, most Dominican superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Many _____ in the diaspora send money home to relatives.

Etymology

From "Dominican Republic," itself named after Santo Domingo; the religious order is named after its founder, Saint Dominic.

Synonyms

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Blackfriar friar preacher

Rhymes for Dominican

Mexican African pelican Vatican American Corsican Jamaican Anglican republican

See all rhymes for Dominican →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Dominican” mean?

The word “Dominican” means a person from the Dominican Republic. In plain terms, either someone/something from the Dominican Republic, or a friar belonging to the Dominican Catholic order.

How do you pronounce “Dominican”?

“Dominican” is pronounced duh-MIHN-ih-kuhn (/dəˈmɪn.ɪ.kən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Dominican” in a sentence?

Here is “Dominican” used in a sentence: “Many Dominicans in the diaspora send money home to relatives.”

What part of speech is “Dominican”?

Depending on how it is used, “Dominican” can be a noun and an adjective.

Is “Dominican” a common word?

“Dominican” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Dominican” have?

“Dominican” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person from the Dominican Republic.

What is the difference between "Dominican" (from the Dominican Republic) and "Dominican" (the religious order)?

One sense of "Dominican" refers to a person or thing from the Dominican Republic, a country in the Caribbean, while the other refers to a member of the Dominican religious order, a Catholic order of friars founded by Saint Dominic. The two uses are unrelated in origin despite sharing a spelling.

How do you tell from context which meaning of "Dominican" is intended?

Context usually makes it clear: references to nationality, culture, or the Caribbean point to the Dominican Republic, while references to friars, monasteries, or the Catholic Church point to the religious order.

Is "Dominican Republic" the only country called "Dominican"?

Yes, "Dominican" as a nationality refers specifically to the Dominican Republic; it should not be confused with "Dominica," a separate Caribbean island nation whose people are called "Dominicans" too, which can cause confusion.