kingdom
Kingdom (noun) means a country or territory ruled by a king or queen. Example: “The kingdom stretched from the mountains to the sea.”
How to use kingdom
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe land ruled by a king or queen, or — more broadly — a domain where something reigns supreme, or one of the top categories in biology.
Word forms
kingdoms plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ stretched from the mountains to the sea.
Etymology
From Old English cyningdom, formed from "king" plus the suffix "-dom," meaning "domain" or "state of."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “kingdom” mean?
The word “kingdom” means a country or territory ruled by a king or queen. In plain terms, the land ruled by a king or queen, or — more broadly — a domain where something reigns supreme, or one of the top categories in biology.
How do you pronounce “kingdom”?
“Kingdom” is pronounced KIHNG-duhm (/ˈkɪŋdəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “kingdom” in a sentence?
Here is “kingdom” used in a sentence: “The kingdom stretched from the mountains to the sea.”
What part of speech is “kingdom”?
“Kingdom” is a noun.
Where does the word “kingdom” come from?
The word “kingdom” comes from Old English. From Old English cyningdom, formed from "king" plus the suffix "-dom," meaning "domain" or "state of.".
Is “kingdom” a common word?
“Kingdom” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “kingdom” have?
“Kingdom” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a country or territory ruled by a king or queen.
What is the difference between a kingdom and an empire?
A kingdom is a single country or territory ruled by a king or queen. An empire is larger — a group of nations, peoples, or territories brought under one supreme ruler, often an emperor, usually through conquest. An empire may contain several kingdoms, but a kingdom governs one realm while an empire spans many.
What is the difference between a kingdom and a country?
Every kingdom is a country, but not every country is a kingdom. Kingdom specifies the form of rule — a monarchy headed by a king or queen. Country is the neutral, general term regardless of government, so a republic is a country but not a kingdom. The distinction is about who reigns.
What are examples of kingdoms?
Modern examples include the United Kingdom, Spain, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand, each headed by a monarch. Historically, kingdoms such as England, France, and the many realms of medieval Europe and Africa were common. The word also appears figuratively, as in the animal kingdom, meaning a broad division or domain.
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