kingdom

noun

king·​dom ˈkiŋ-dəm 

1

: a politically organized community or major territorial unit having a monarchical form of government headed by a king or queen

2

often capitalized

a

: the eternal kingship of God

b

: the realm in which God's will is fulfilled

3

a

: a realm or region in which something is dominant

a cattle kingdom

b

: an area or sphere in which one holds a preeminent position

The office was his own private kingdom.

4

a

: one of the three primary divisions into which natural objects are commonly classified compare animal kingdom, mineral kingdom, plant kingdom

b

: a major category (such as Plantae or Protista) in biological taxonomy that ranks above the phylum and below the domain

5

archaic : kingship

Synonyms

• area
• arena
• bailiwick
• barony
• business
• circle
• demesne
• department
• discipline
• domain
• element
• fief
• fiefdom
• field
• firmament
• front
• game
• line
• precinct
• province
• realm
• specialty
• sphere
• terrain
• walk

Examples of kingdom in a Sentence

After Queen Mary I died, her half sister Elizabeth ruled the kingdom.

a studio head who was once the undisputed ruler of the kingdom of Hollywood

Recent Examples on the Web

Even in an era of kingdoms and duchies, nobody could afford a Bugatti Royale. —Raphael Orlove, Robb Report, 27 Feb. 2025

The new brand campaign arrives three months after the tour hosted its finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the first time in December after the WTA signed a sponsorship pact with the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund, PIF, last May. —Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 27 Feb. 2025

Set against the backdrop of World War II and the Chinese invasion of Tibet, Jean-Jacques Annaud’s film follows Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer (Brad Pitt), who, after being captured by British forces in India, escapes a prisoner-of-war camp and makes his way to the secluded kingdom of Tibet. —Travis Bean, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2025

Western business leaders canceled investments in the kingdom. —Vivian Yee, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing kingdom

• animal kingdom
• kingdom come
• mineral kingdom
• plant kingdom
• to kingdom come

Kids Definition

kingdom

noun

king·​dom ˈkiŋ-dəm 

1

: a country whose ruler is a king or queen

2

: a region in which something or someone has very strong influence

the cotton kingdom

3

a

: one of the three primary divisions into which natural objects are classified compare animal kingdom, mineral kingdom, plant kingdom

b

: a major category in the scientific classification of living things that ranks above the phylum and below the domain

Medical Definition

kingdom

noun

king·​dom ˈkiŋ-dəm 

1

: any of the three primary divisions into which natural objects are grouped see animal kingdom, mineral kingdom, plant kingdom

2

: a major category (as Protista) in biological taxonomy that ranks above the phylum and below the domain