empire
EHM-peye-uh
Empire (noun) means a large political unit made up of many territories or peoples, usually ruled over by a single powerful authority. Example: “The Roman Empire stretched across three continents at its height.”
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."
"The ancient empire ruled many different peoples and languages."
2
A large, powerful business or organization controlled by one person or group.
"She built a media empire from a single small radio station."
"He turned a small bakery into a retail empire with shops everywhere."
"The family's publishing empire includes dozens of magazines and websites."
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- empires
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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."
Related words
Rhymes for empire
See all rhymes for empire →Frequently asked questions
What does “empire” mean?
The word “empire” means a large political unit made up of many territories or peoples, usually ruled over by a single powerful authority. In plain terms, a large group of territories under one ruler, or, more loosely, a huge and powerful business or organization.
How do you pronounce “empire”?
“Empire” is pronounced EHM-peye-uh (/ˈɛmˌpaɪ̯ɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “empire” in a sentence?
Here is “empire” used in a sentence: “The Roman Empire stretched across three continents at its height.”
What part of speech is “empire”?
“Empire” is a noun.
Where does the word “empire” come from?
The word “empire” comes from Latin. From Old French empire, from Latin imperium, "command, dominion," from imperare, "to command.".
Is “empire” a common word?
“Empire” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “empire” have?
“Empire” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large political unit made up of many territories or peoples, usually ruled over by a single powerful authority.
What is the difference between an empire and a kingdom?
An empire rules over many different peoples and territories, often gained by conquest, under one supreme authority such as an emperor. A kingdom is usually a single nation ruled by a king or queen. The key difference is scale and diversity: empires absorb multiple nations, while kingdoms typically govern just one.
What are some famous examples of empires?
Well-known empires include the Roman, British, Mongol, Ottoman, and Persian empires. Each controlled vast lands and many different peoples under a central power. The word is also used figuratively for huge organisations, as in a media empire or business empire, where one person or group dominates a whole industry.
Can 'empire' describe a business?
Yes. Figuratively, an empire is a large, powerful commercial organisation controlled by one person or group, such as a media empire or retail empire. The image is of vast reach and dominant control, echoing the political sense of ruling many parts from a single centre. It usually implies great wealth and influence.
What is the opposite of an empire?
There is no single opposite, but a small independent state or city-state contrasts sharply with an empire's scale. Politically, a self-governing republic or a loose federation can be seen as alternatives, since neither concentrates power over many different peoples under one imperial ruler. A colony is the ruled part of an empire.
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