great power

noun

variants often Great Power
Synonyms of great powernext
: one of the nations that figure most decisively in international affairs : superpower

Examples of great power in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Small and middle powers, particularly those from the Global South, are stepping into this breach and providing an essential public good that great powers, bound by their own rivalries, increasingly cannot. Galip Dalay, Time, 6 Jan. 2026 Similar to other great powers, the United States has long looked at its near-abroad at its exclusive domain, where the influence of geopolitical competitors must be constrained to the maximum extent possible. Daniel Depetris, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026 In the era of imperialism in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the great powers divided the globe into spheres of influence. Peter Kornbluh, Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026 Such arguments suggest that the two great powers are engaged in a two-player race—that one of them will win and the other will lose—and that the winner will obtain significant benefits at the expense of the loser. Boris Babic, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for great power

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of great power was in 1660

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Cite this Entry

“Great power.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great%20power. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

great power

noun
: one of the nations that have the greatest influence, resources, and military strength in the world

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