kingdom
kingdom — noun
1. a country whose head of state is a king or a queen, with the role typically pass
a country whose head of state is a king or a queen, with the role typically passed from parent to child
The United Kingdom has a queen as its head of state.
proper noun: the United Kingdom
Jiwoo learned about the ancient kingdom of Silla in her history class.
This small European kingdom welcomed its new queen with a grand celebration in the capital.
royal succession context: welcoming a new queen
After the old king died, his oldest daughter became the ruler of the kingdom.
demonstrates royal succession
- united kingdom
- kingdom of
- ancient kingdom
- small kingdom
- neighbouring kingdom
- republic
a country without a monarch, where citizens elect their leaders
Grammar Patterns
the Kingdom of [place]
the [Adjective] Kingdom
Usage Note
Often used with 'the' in the names of specific countries, such as 'the United Kingdom' or 'the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia'.
Common Mistakes
2. a place, situation, or activity that is fully under someone's control, or one in
a place, situation, or activity that is fully under someone's control, or one in which a certain quality or interest is what matters most
Shirin's garden was her private kingdom, where she made all the decisions.
possessive: someone's kingdom for person's domain
Minh learned that in the kingdom of fashion, popular styles can be forgotten next year.
Faisal treated his workshop as his personal kingdom, full of tools and half-finished projects.
The kitchen was Aunt Rosa's kingdom, and no one dared to rearrange her pots.
metaphorical: a specific location as someone's territory
- personal kingdom
- private kingdom
- kingdom of fashion
- kingdom of music
- someone's kingdom
Grammar Patterns
someone's kingdom
the kingdom of [quality/activity]
Usage Note
Frequently used in possessive constructions ('his kingdom', 'her kingdom') or with 'of' ('the kingdom of music'). This is a figurative extension of the literal sense — no actual king or queen is involved.
Common Mistakes
3. a particular area or type of activity or knowledge, seen as a world with its own
a particular area or type of activity or knowledge, seen as a world with its own rules and people
When Hamza started violin lessons at age seven, he entered the kingdom of classical music.
pattern: the kingdom of [field]
Aoi discovered that in the kingdom of computer programming, new languages appear almost every year.
Zola found her place in the kingdom of children's book illustration.
The kingdom of professional cooking is known for its long hours and intense pressure.
- kingdom of classical music
- kingdom of science
- kingdom of literature
- kingdom of film
Grammar Patterns
the kingdom of [field]
Usage Note
Almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'the kingdom of + [field]'. Unlike sense 2, this sense does not suggest personal control — it simply describes a broad area of human endeavour.
Common Mistakes
4. one of the main groups that scientists use to sort living things and natural obj
one of the main groups that scientists use to sort living things and natural objects by their shared features
All mammals, from mice to whales, belong to the animal kingdom.
biological classification: animal kingdom
In biology class, Pedro learned about the five kingdoms of living organisms.
Both mushrooms and common mold belong to the fungi kingdom.
Tuan compared the animal kingdom with the plant kingdom in his science report.
paired classification: animal kingdom vs plant kingdom
- animal kingdom
- plant kingdom
- fungi kingdom
- mineral kingdom
- five kingdoms
- kingdom of living things
- division
sometimes used in botany as equivalent to phylum, not kingdom
- taxonomic group
a general term for any level of classification
- phylum
a level below kingdom in biological classification
Grammar Patterns
the [adjective] kingdom
kingdom of [organism type]
Usage Note
Commonly paired with 'animal', 'plant', 'fungi', or 'mineral' to refer to the major biological groups. In modern taxonomy, scientists typically recognise five or six kingdoms, though some systems use a rank called 'domain' above kingdom.
Common Mistakes
to destroy someone or something completely, especially with a powerful explosion
The demolition team blew the old hotel to kingdom come in just ten seconds.
One wrong move with the gas canister could blow us all to kingdom come.
for an extremely long time; in a way that seems to last forever
We could sit here waiting for a bus until kingdom come if we do not check the timetable.
Aaron's uncle can talk about his fishing trips till kingdom come.
To destroy someone or something completely in an explosion.
The bomb blew the old building to kingdom come.
Did the fireworks blow the shed to kingdom come?