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The fifth scale degree and its chord (V). The dominant creates the strongest pull back toward the tonic — the V–I resolution is the foundation of tonal harmony.
The dominant is your primary tension chord. V–I is the most fundamental harmonic motion. Extend the dominant with dominant pedals, dominant preparation (cadential 6/4), and dominant prolongation to increase the power of the eventual tonic resolution.
Mozart's Piano Sonata K. 545, first movement — the exposition moves from tonic C to dominant G, and the recapitulation resolves everything back to C.
Dominant is one of 1760 terms in the Gradus musical dictionary: the words, abbreviations and instrument names that appear in printed scores, plus the vocabulary composers use to talk about them.
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