em·pire
ˈem-ˌpī(-ə)r 
1
a(1)
: a major political unit having a territory of great extent or a number of territories or peoples under a single sovereign authority
especially
: one having an emperor as chief of state
(2)
: the territory of such a political unit
b
: something resembling a political empire
especially
: an extensive territory or enterprise under single domination or control
2
: imperial sovereignty, rule, or dominion
3
Empire
[Empire State, nickname for New York]
: a juicy apple with dark red skin that is a cross between a McIntosh apple and a Red Delicious apple
Em·pire
ˈäm-ˌpir
ˈem-ˌpī(-ə)r
ˈem-ˌpī(-ə)r
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a style (as of clothing or furniture) popular in early 19th century France
Examples of empire in a Sentence
Noun
She built a tiny business into a worldwide empire.
He controlled a cattle empire in the heart of Texas.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adam Bell
april 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
With nearly 10,000 satellites in its growing orbital constellation, Starlink has become a lucrative part of Musk's business empire, serving millions of customers around the world.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
If festive pride persists, it is no longer connected to a country, empire, culture, or race, but the unique traditions of individual municipalities, pitted against one another in fierce but friendly, sportsmanlike rivalries.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2026
Or, the map as a menu for land-hungry empires.
—Big Think, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empire
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
The title refers to the Quechua language that dates to the ancient Inca empire and is still spoken by millions of people in the Andes region of Peru.
—Adam Bell
april 2, Charlotte Observer, 2 Apr. 2026
With nearly 10,000 satellites in its growing orbital constellation, Starlink has become a lucrative part of Musk's business empire, serving millions of customers around the world.
—Eric Lagatta, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
If festive pride persists, it is no longer connected to a country, empire, culture, or race, but the unique traditions of individual municipalities, pitted against one another in fierce but friendly, sportsmanlike rivalries.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2026
Or, the map as a menu for land-hungry empires.
—Big Think, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for empire
Cite this Entry
“Empire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/empire. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
empire
noun
em·pire
ˈem-ˌpī(ə)r
1
a
: a major political unit with a large territory or a number of territories or peoples under one ruler with total authority
especially
: one having an emperor as chief of state
b
: the territory of such a unit
c
: something resembling an empire
especially
: a large group of businesses under one control
2
: the state of being under or of having complete rule or control
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
