noun
empire
EHM-peye-uh
noun
1
A large political unit made up of many territories or peoples, usually ruled over by a single powerful authority.
"The Roman Empire stretched across three continents at its height."
"The empire eventually collapsed under the weight of its own expansion."
2
A large, powerful business or organization controlled by one person or group.
"She built a media empire from a single small radio station."
How to Use Empire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large group of territories under one ruler, or, more loosely, a huge and powerful business or organization.
Common pairings
build an empire
fall of the empire
business empire
Word Forms
empires plural
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The Roman _____ stretched across three continents at its height.
Etymology
From Old French empire, from Latin imperium, "command, dominion," from imperare, "to command."