dynasty

noun

dy·​nas·​ty ˈdī-nə-stē 

 also  -ˌna-stē,

 especially British  ˈdi-nə-stē

plural dynasties

1

: a succession of rulers of the same line of descent (see descent sense 1a)

a dynasty that ruled China for nearly 300 years

2

: a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time

born into a powerful political dynasty

a baseball dynasty

dynastic

dī-ˈna-stik 

adjective

dynastically

dī-ˈna-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Dynasty Has Greek Roots

Dynasty has had quite the run in English. For over 600 years it’s been used to refer to a ruling family that maintains power generation after generation. At the time dynasty was first used in English, for example, England was in the midst of rule by the Plantagenet dynasty, whose line of succession provided 14 kings, from Henry II to Richard III. Around the beginning of the 19th century, the word developed the figurative sense “a group or family that dominates a particular field for generations.” Nowadays, this sense of dynasty is often applied to sports franchises that have prolonged runs of successful seasons, divine right not required. Technically, any team is capable of becoming this type of dynasty, including not only Kings and Royals, but also Ducks.

Did you know?

Sports Dynasties

Dynasty has been in use in English for over 600 years, for most of that time referring to a ruling family that maintains power through succession. Around the beginning of the 19th century, the word developed the figurative sense “a group or family that dominates a particular field for generations.” Nowadays, this sense of dynasty is often applied to a sports franchise which has a prolonged run of successful seasons. The sports use appears to have begun in the early 20th century. An article in The Washington Post in 1905 refers to “John T. Brush’s baseball dynasty,” and by 1912 the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that “if players were free agents at the end of every two years, baseball dynasties such as those built up by the Cubs, Athletics, Detroits and Giants would not be possible.”

Examples of dynasty in a Sentence

a dynasty that ruled China for nearly 300 years

There was a civil war during the dynasty.

She was born into a powerful political dynasty.

Recent Examples on the Web

Subsequent episodes of Hollywood Demons focus on former child actors Brian Bonsall (Family Ties) and Dee Jay Daniels (The Hughleys), the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’s Taylor Armstrong, the Von Erich wrestling dynasty, and celebrity stalkers. —The Deadline Tv Team, Deadline, 22 Mar. 2025

Things To Do At Burghley House The House Home of the Cecil dynasty for nearly 400 years, Burghley House is one of the largest and grandest surviving country houses of the 16th century. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2025

That was particularly true of the 2009 championship squad, which saw remnants of the Yankees’ last dynasty — Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera — mesh with Sabathia and other new, colorful characters. —Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025

Additionally, experts think servants flushed it by pouring water into the bowl after each use during the Warring States period (475 to 221 B.C.E.) and the Han dynasty (206 to 220 B.C.E.). —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English dynastia, dynastie "power, sovereignty, succession of rulers," borrowed from Medieval Latin dynastīa, going back to Late Latin, "rule, power," borrowed from Greek dynasteía "arbitrarily exercised political power, lordship, rule," from dynástēs "holder of political power, lord, ruler" + -eia -y entry 2 — more at dynast

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

dynasty

noun

dy·​nas·​ty ˈdī-nə-stē 

 also  -ˌnas-tē

plural dynasties

: a succession of rulers of the same line of descent

dynastic

dī-ˈnas-tik 

adjective

dynastically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb