sphere of influence

noun phrase

: a territorial area within which the political influence or the interests of one nation are held to be more or less paramount

Examples of sphere of influence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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The mix offers a road map through the sphere of influence that has shaped her perspective as a musician and DJ, gathering recent hits and new exclusives from friends and contemporaries along with four new originals. —

Matthew Ismael Ruiz, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2026 Later on Sunday, Artemis II is due to enter the lunar sphere of influence, which is the point where the pull of the Moon's gravity becomes stronger than the pull of the Earth's. —

Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026 The lunar sphere of influence isn’t a physical or tangible border. —

Denise Chow, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026 The Orion spacecraft is now in the lunar sphere of influence, meaning the moon's gravity has more pull on the vehicle than the Earth. —

Brendan Byrne, NPR, 6 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sphere of influence

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of sphere of influence was in 1885

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Browse Nearby Words

sphereless

sphere of influence

spheric

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Sphere of influence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sphere%20of%20influence. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.

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