Dominant
Emphasizes control or power. It suggests that something is clearly the strongest or most important element. For example, a dominant personality is one that tends to take charge and control situations. Or, a dominant force in the market is a company that has a much larger share than its competitors.
Predominant
Emphasizes prevalence or quantity. It suggests that something is the most frequent or common, but it doesn’t necessarily imply control. For example, a predominant color scheme might be the one used throughout most of a building’s design. Or, the predominant emotion in a room might be sadness if many people are feeling down.
Key difference
| Feature | Dominant | Predominant |
|---|---|---|
| Emphasis | Control, power | Prevalence, quantity |
| Implication | Strongest, most important | Most frequent, common |