\Pre*pon"der*ant\, a. [L. praeponderans, -antis: cf. F. pr['e]pond['e]rant. See {Preponderate}.] Preponderating; outweighing; overbalancing; -- used literally and figuratively; as, a preponderant weight; of preponderant importance. -- {Pre*pon"der*ant*ly}, adv.