kingdom
gb/kˈɪŋdəm/ us/kˈɪŋdəm/
A2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Land ruled by a monarch
A country or area that has a king or queen as its leader.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] rules the kingdom
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'kingdom' with 'country', but 'kingdom' specifically means a country ruled by a king or queen.
Synonyms
realm (More formal or literary term for a territory under a monarch's rule.)
|
monarchy (Focuses on the system of government rather than the land itself.)
Antonyms
republic (A state without a monarch, often with elected leaders.)
Collocations
ancient kingdom
|united kingdom
|kingdom of [place]
|rule the kingdom
|kingdom's capital
Themes
politics
|geography
|history
|law
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The kingdom was at peace for many years.
- She dreamed of traveling across the entire kingdom.
- The king expanded his kingdom through alliances.
- The kingdom's borders stretched to the mountains.
- He inherited the kingdom after his father's death.
Learner examples
- The king lives in the kingdom.
- The kingdom is big.
- People in the kingdom like their queen.
- This is the oldest kingdom in the world.
Noun
technical
B1
entity
2
Major category in biology
In science, a big group used to put living things into types, like animals or plants.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'kingdom' in biology with 'kingdom' as a political area; context is important.
Synonyms
phylum (in some contexts) (A related biological rank, but lower than kingdom.)
Collocations
animal kingdom
|plant kingdom
|five kingdoms
|kingdom classification
Themes
science
|biology
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The animal kingdom includes all animals on Earth.
- Fungi form their own separate kingdom.
- Scientists debate how many kingdoms should be recognized.
- The plant kingdom produces oxygen for life.
- Bacteria belong to a different kingdom than plants.
Learner examples
- The animal kingdom has many kinds of animals.
- Plants are in the plant kingdom.
- Fungi are in another kingdom.
- Bacteria are in their own kingdom.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Field or sphere of influence
An area of life or work where someone has control or is very skilled.
Usage pattern:
[someone's] kingdom of [activity/interest]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this metaphorical sense in inappropriate formal contexts; it is often figurative.
Synonyms
domain (Very close in meaning; often used in both literal and figurative contexts.)
|
realm (Similar meaning; more formal or literary tone.)
Collocations
digital kingdom
|kingdom of art
|his own kingdom
Themes
business
|metaphor
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The kitchen was her personal kingdom.
- In the kingdom of sports, he is a legend.
- The CEO built a business empire that became his kingdom.
- This library is a kingdom of knowledge.
Learner examples
- The garden is her kingdom.
- In music, this singer is king of his kingdom.
- This shop is his little kingdom.
Grammar
Dictionary form
kingdom
IPA
GB/kˈɪŋdəm/
US/kˈɪŋdəm/
Syllables & stress
king - dom (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (king)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: kingdom
- Plural: kingdoms
Word family
Expressions
my home is my kingdom
1/mˈaɪ hˈoʊm ˈɪz mˈaɪ kˈɪŋdəm/
idiom
informal
Home as a place of control and comfort
Your home is where you are in charge and feel safe.
Examples
- I don't care what others say—my home is my kingdom.
- She believes her home is her kingdom where she makes the rules.
the animal kingdom
1/ðə ˈænəməl kˈɪŋdəm/
fixed phrase
All animals as a group
All animals in the world seen as one big group.
Examples
- Predators play an important role in the animal kingdom.
- Cooperation can be found throughout the animal kingdom.
the United Kingdom
1/ðə junˈaɪtɪd kˈɪŋdəm/
fixed phrase
Country made up of four nations
The country that includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Examples
- The United Kingdom is an island nation in Europe.
- She moved from the United Kingdom to Canada last year.