great power

noun

variants often Great Power
: 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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But any agreement reached will be just one touchstone in a thorny and volatile great power rivalry between the world’s superpower democracy and an authoritarian China, whose growing military assertiveness under Xi in the East and South China Seas is rattling US allies in the region. Betsy Klein, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025 Today’s agreement, struck on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, averts another escalation of tensions between the world’s two great powers. Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025 But with great power came great responsibility. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025 Since then, none of the world’s great powers or international institutions have been able to loosen the Russian leader’s hold on it. Simon Shuster, Time, 23 Oct. 2025 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 5 Nov. 2025.

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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