empire

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈɛmpaɪə/, SAMPA: /"EmpaI@/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈɛmpaɪɚ/, SAMPA: /"EmpaI@`/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular empire

Plural empires

A map showing The British Empire in 1921.

1. (countable) An empire is a large country that has taken control of many other countries.
2. (countable) An empire is a country led by an emperor or empress.
3. (countable) An empire is a large amount of property and power that a person might have.

   No mater how rich he got, he kept trying to build his empire bigger.

Related words

• emperor
• empress

See also

• kingdom