# dominant vs dominate

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### dominant
*noun · IPA /ˈdɒmɪnənt/ · frequency rank #4,851*
The fifth major tone of a musical scale (five major steps above the note in question); thus G is the dominant of C, A of D, and so on.

### dominate
*verb · IPA /ˈdɒm.ɪ.neɪt/ · frequency rank #8,658*
To govern, rule or control by superior authority or power

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/dominant-vs-dominate