white supremacy

noun

1

: the belief that the white race is inherently superior to other races and that white people should have control over people of other races

The alt-right is a reactionary conservative movement. … It is characterized by an embrace of fascism, white supremacy, and misogyny …

—Constance Grady

2

: the social, economic, and political systems that collectively enable white people to maintain power over people of other races

… [William] Kelley turned his considerable intellect and imagination to the question of what it is like to be white in this country, and what it is like, for all Americans, to live under the conditions of white supremacy …

—Kathryn Schulz

Examples of white supremacy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But, that September, fifteen thousand hooded Klansmen marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington in a show of the strength of American nativism, white supremacy, anti-Catholicism, and antisemitism. —Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026

To give them a sense of social justice and teach them about the damages of white supremacy and the patriarchy. —Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026

Multiple books were found in Maloney's hotel room related to extremist ideologies, including right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacy and anti-government ideology. —Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Evidence recovered during the investigation included multiple books related to extremist ideologies — spanning right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacy and anti-government beliefs — as well as explosive materials and components, according to McMahill. —Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

white supremacy

noun

: the belief that the white race is superior to other races and that white people should have control over people of other races

white supremacist noun