prepotency

C2 Topic:Family & Relationships

US /ˌpriːˈpoʊtənsi/ UK /ˌpriːˈpəʊtənsi/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

noun
an unusual ability of one parent, individual, or strain to transmit its characteristics strongly to offspring

The breeder attributed the foal's marked resemblance to the sire's prepotency.
2

noun
the state of having greater power, influence, or importance than others

The journal maintained its prepotency in the field for several decades.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · an unusual ability of one... hereditary dominancetransmitting power

2 noun · the state of having greater... predominance supremacy

Opposites

subordination weakness

Word family

Derived forms prepotent

Related forms potency heredity

Etymology

From prepotent plus -cy, ultimately from Latin praepotens ("very powerful, predominant"), formed from prae- ("before, in front") and potens ("powerful"). Genetics and breeding specialized the word for unusually strong transmission of parental traits.

Topics

Family & Relationships Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# prepotency

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌpriːˈpoʊtənsi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌpriːˈpəʊtənsi/

## Meanings
1. an unusual ability of one parent, individual, or strain to transmit its characteristics strongly to offspring
2. the state of having greater power, influence, or importance than others

## Examples
- The breeder attributed the foal's marked resemblance to the sire's prepotency.
- The journal maintained its prepotency in the field for several decades.

## Synonyms
- hereditary dominance
- predominance
- supremacy

## Antonyms
- subordination
- weakness

## Derived Forms
- prepotent

## Related Forms
- potency
- heredity

## Etymology
From prepotent plus -cy, ultimately from Latin praepotens ("very powerful, predominant"), formed from prae- ("before, in front") and potens ("powerful"). Genetics and breeding specialized the word for unusually strong transmission of parental traits.

## Topics
- Family & Relationships
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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