supremacy

noun

su·​prem·​a·​cy sə-ˈpre-mə-sē 

sü-,

 also  -ˈprē-

plural supremacies

1

: the quality or state of being supreme

especially : a position of unquestioned authority, dominance, or influence

military/naval supremacy

In the 20th century, two completely different models of how to run an economy battled for supremacy.

—Bill McKibben

Natal's well-watered valleys … became by the end of the 18th century the site of a contest for supremacy …

—Noel Mostert

Every high school boasts its elite squad of lookers: sparkling teeth, merciless anatomy, sunny filaments of hair … . Between classes, they parade down the halls, trooping their supremacies like Clydesdales.

—Richard Lacayo

2

: ultimate authority or power

belief in the supremacy of God

Synonyms

• dominance
• domination
• dominion
• sovereignty

Examples of supremacy in a Sentence

the Roman empire had supremacy over the entire Mediterranean world

the supremacy of cashmere among wools accounts for its high price

Recent Examples on the Web

America’s supremacy in chip designing is uncontested. —Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025

Advertisement For an administration that claims to be concerned about maintaining technological and scientific supremacy against international rivals, the political warfare on higher education makes no sense. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 5 Sep. 2025

Hawks in Congress frequently point to competition with China and a need to establish US supremacy in space technology as urgent considerations. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2025

Indeed, the race for AI supremacy, especially in the world of healthcare, is just getting started. —Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

supreme + -acy (as in primacy)

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing supremacy

• white supremacy

Kids Definition

supremacy

noun

su·​prem·​a·​cy sə-ˈprem-ə-sē 

plural supremacies

1

: the quality or state of being supreme

2

: supreme authority or power