How to say "dominance" in Japanese

• 優性ゆうせい
  nounThe genetics sense of 'dominance', describing a trait or allele that prevails over its recessive counterpart. Use it in biological and heredity contexts when contrasting dominant with recessive.
• 顕性けんせい
  no-adjectiveAlso a genetics term for 'dominance', referring to a characteristic being expressed, or manifest, in an organism. A technical, less common alternative to 優性 in discussions of heredity.
• 優占ゆうせん
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbRefers specifically to the dominance of a species within a plant or animal community in ecology, where one species predominates. It is a technical term used in ecological descriptions of which species prevails in a habitat.
• 利きききCommon
  noun (suffix), noun (prefix)The only common word here, covering the dominance of one side of the body, as in a left- or right-handed or -footed person. This is the everyday word you want for such sidedness; it does not serve the genetic or ecological senses.

Use 「利き」 for handedness or sidedness, 優占 for the dominance of a species in ecology, and 優性 and 顕性 for dominance in genetics, where 優性 contrasts dominant with recessive traits.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 優性ゆうせいdominance
• 顕性けんせいdominance
• 優占ゆうせんdominance (of a species)
• 利きききdominance (e.g. of left or right hand)