empire

Definition

A political state, often a monarchy, that has achieved a much greater current size than its initial size by conquering surrounding territories, cities or nations.

Etymology

From Middle English empire, from Old French empire, empere, from Latin imperium, inperium (“command, control, dominion, sovereignty, a dominion, empire”), from imperare, inperare (“to command, order”), from in (“in, on”) + parare (“to make ready, order”). Doublet of empery and imperium.

Example Sentences

• "the Russian empire"
• "States and empires fail when they are no longer the solution, they are the problem."
• "The Empire of Vietnam was a short-lived client state of Japan governing Vietnam between March 11 and August 23, 1945."

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