Kingdom: meaning, definitions and examples

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kingdom

 

[ ˈkɪŋdəm ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medieval history

A country, state, or territory ruled by a king or queen. In medieval Europe, kingdoms were often associated with feudalism, where the king or queen had ultimate authority over the land and its people.

Synonyms

domain, monarchy, realm.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
kingdom

Typically used to refer to a country or territory ruled by a king or queen. Often used in historical or fantasy contexts.

  • The kingdom was known for its brave knights and beautiful castles
realm

Usually refers to a kingdom or region but can also mean a field or domain of activity or interest. Often used in both literal and metaphorical senses.

  • His influence extends beyond the realm of politics
monarchy

Refers to a system of government where a single ruler, such as a king or queen, holds significant power. Focuses on the political structure rather than the territory itself.

  • The country transitioned from a monarchy to a democratic republic
domain

Used to describe an area of influence, control, or expertise, not necessarily a physical territory. Frequently seen in academic, technical, or business fields.

  • Cybersecurity is her domain of expertise

Examples of usage

  • The kingdom of England was ruled by various monarchs throughout history.
  • In the medieval kingdom, the king's power was absolute.
Context #2 | Noun

biology

The highest category in the classification of living organisms, ranking above a phylum. Kingdoms are used to group organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary history.

Synonyms

category, group, taxon.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
kingdom

Use this word to refer to a large, significant area or domain, especially when talking about ancient or medieval political entities. It can also be used in a scientific context to denote one of the highest taxonomic ranks in biology.

  • The fall of the Roman Empire led to the rise of various kingdoms in Europe.
  • In biology, the animal kingdom includes creatures from multiple phyla.
taxon

This term is specifically used in scientific and biological contexts to refer to a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit.

  • The new species was classified under an existing taxon.
  • Taxonomists are constantly discovering new taxa in diverse ecosystems.
category

This word is best for sorting or classifying items that share common characteristics. It's often used in everyday language to organize or divide things into distinct groups based on shared attributes.

  • All the books in the library are organized by category.
  • In this competition, participants are divided into age categories.
group

Use this when referring to a collection of people, animals, or objects that are gathered together, sharing some common feature. It’s a very general term and is widely applicable in both formal and informal settings.

  • A group of friends went hiking over the weekend.
  • The research study focused on a group of students from different schools.

Examples of usage

  • Plants and animals belong to different kingdoms in biological classification.
  • The classification system includes five main kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, and Monera.

Translations

Translations of the word "kingdom" in other languages:

🇵🇹 reino

🇮🇳 राज्य

🇩🇪 Königreich

🇮🇩 kerajaan

🇺🇦 королівство

🇵🇱 królestwo

🇯🇵 王国 (おうこく)

🇫🇷 royaume

🇪🇸 reino

🇹🇷 krallık

🇰🇷 왕국 (왕국)

🇸🇦 مملكة

🇨🇿 království

🇸🇰 kráľovstvo

🇨🇳 王国 (wángguó)

🇸🇮 kraljestvo

🇮🇸 konungsríki

🇰🇿 корольдік

🇬🇪 სამეფო (samepho)

🇦🇿 krallıq

🇲🇽 reino

Etymology

The word 'kingdom' originated from the Old English word 'cyningdom', which was derived from 'cyning' meaning 'king' and 'dom' meaning 'domain' or 'state'. The concept of kingdoms has a long history, dating back to ancient times when powerful rulers established vast territories under their rule. Over the centuries, the term 'kingdom' evolved to represent both political entities governed by monarchs and biological classifications of living organisms.

See also: king, kingly, kingpin.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #2,787, this word belongs to solid intermediate vocabulary. It's frequently used in both casual and formal contexts and is worth learning for better fluency.