a sequence of powerful leaders in the same family
"The Ming dynasty ruled China for over three centuries under a continuous line of emperors from the same royal family."
A series of rulers or dynasts from one family.
"The Ming dynasty was a long period during which every emperor belonged to the same royal family."
In plain English: A dynasty is a long line of rulers from the same family who hold power over a country for many generations.
"The Ming Dynasty ruled China for over three hundred years before falling to invaders from the north."
Usage: Use dynasty to describe a long line of hereditary rulers, such as the Ming Dynasty in China, rather than referring to modern corporate leadership teams. This term specifically implies political power passed down through generations within a single family.
The word dynasty entered English via the Old French term dynastie, which was borrowed from the Latin dynastia. It ultimately traces back to an ancient Greek root meaning "power" or "dominion."