4e is pretty much the only edition that didn't successfully redefined "what is D&D" by widely expanding the player base.

1e kind of defined what is D&D.
2e was the first "D&D experience" to many through Baldur's Gate 1 & 2.
3e's legacy was so popular it overshadowed 4e.
5e is literally the most popular TTRPG ever released.

I'd say currently 3e is more influential, but I'm quite confident that 5e (or an even more successful successor) will eventually overtake it.