| Also a sports term for a team that wins multiple consecutive championships over several years. The term "dynasty" in sports evokes images of teams which dominated their sport for an extended period (somewhat similar to our good friend Webster1913's 2nd definition).
What constitutes a dynasty is often debated in sports circles. Below's a brief listing of some notable dynasties.
Basketball
In NBA (basketball), Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics, coached by Red Auerbach, won an impressive 11 of 13 NBA championships (1957, 1959-1966, 1968-1969), a run of success that's unprecedented in major American sports history.
The Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls of the 1990s rival the Russell-led Celtics as the greatest NBA dynasty. The Bulls won 6 titles in 8 seasons (1991-1993, 1996-1998). Many wonder if the Bulls could've won 8 straight had Jordan not temporarily retired from basketball in 1994.
In college basketball, UCLA, coached by John Wooden, won 10 of 12 NCAA men's basketball championships (1964-1965, 1967-1973, 1975).
The Houston Comets are the first women's pro basketball dynasty, winning the first four WNBA championships (1997-2000).
Baseball
Major league baseball hasn't had any team which has dominated the sport for as long a period of the Celtics and UCLA did in basketball.
The New York Yankees have had several dynasties. The Yanks (managed by Joe McCarthy) won 4 straight World Series from 1936-1939, and 6 in 8 years (adding championships in 1941 and 1943).
The Casey Stengel-managed Yankees won 5 straight World Series from 1949-1953 (and also won another in 1947 under Bucky Harris, for 6 in 7 years).
More recently, the Yankees (managed by Joe Torre) have won the World Series in 1996 and 1998-2000 (4 in 5 years).
Dick Williams managed the Oakland Athletics to 3 straight championships from 1970-1972.
Football
Very few football teams have had great success over a prolonged period of time.
The Green Bay Packers are the only team to have won 3 straight championships, and they performed that feat twice (1929-1931 and 1965-1967, the latter coached by the legendary Vince Lombardi).
Other NFL teams that many consider to be dynasties include the 1980s San Francisco 49ers (won 4 Super Bowls in 9 years), the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers (4 championships in 6 years) and the 1970s Dallas Cowboys (won 2 Super Bowls; lost in 3 others).
Hockey
The Toronto Maple Leafs won 3 straight Stanley Cups from 1947-1949 (and won others in 1945 and 1951, for 5 in seven years).
The Montreal Canadiens of the late 1950s are considered by many to be the first great NHL dynasty, winning the Stanley Cup 5 straight times, from 1956-1960.
Two decades later, the Canadiens won 4 straight Stanley Cups, from 1976-1979.
Immediately following that, the New York Islanders won the next four championships (1980-1983).
Hockey had its 3rd significant dynasty in a decade, as Wayne Gretzky led the Edmonton Oilers to 5 championships in 7 years, from 1984-1990.
Soccer
In European soccer, Real Madrid won 5 straight European Cups from 1956-1960. Ajax won 3 straight (1971-1973), which was immediately followed by Bayern Munich's run of 3 straight (1974-1976). | 
