Predominance means being greater in number, strength, or importance than others. When something has predominance, it stands out as the main or most powerful element in a situation.

In a forest where oak trees have predominance, oaks outnumber and overshadow the other species. In a classroom discussion, if one student talks far more than everyone else, that student has predominance in the conversation. When historians talk about the predominance of a particular empire, they mean that empire was the strongest force in its region during that time period.

The word suggests clear dominance or superiority, a decisive advantage over others. A basketball team that wins most of its games by large margins shows predominance in its league. A flavor that completely takes over a dish, making it hard to taste anything else, has achieved predominance.

You'll often see this word when people describe which force, group, or quality is most influential in a particular setting. The predominance of smartphones in modern life means they've become the main way people communicate and access information. Notice how predominance doesn't necessarily mean something is the only thing present, just that it's clearly the strongest or most common.