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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In Davos at the World Economic Forum last month, Carney condemned economic coercion by great powers on smaller countries. ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026 The White House budget chief’s reported aversion to seeing the deficit widen further on the back of a bigger military bill highlights a phenomenon observed by historian Niall Ferguson, who has said any great power that spends more on debt servicing than on defense risks ceasing to be a great power. Jason Ma, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026 So did dozens of journalists hoping only to file a story with a Madrid dateline and thereby prove their access and daring via this war of fascism against democracy, pitting the great powers of the world against one another in shadowy combat. Literary Hub, 24 Feb. 2026 With great power tensions rising in the real world, there has never been a better time for audiences to watch these films — if only to remind themselves of why peace is preferable to conflict. David Faris, TheWeek, 24 Feb. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Great power.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/great%20power. Accessed 4 Mar. 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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