trump

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈtrəmp 

1

a

: a card of a suit any of whose cards will win over a card that is not of this suit

called also trump card

b

: the suit whose cards are trumps for a particular hand

—often used in plural

2

: a decisive overriding factor or final resource

called also trump card

3

: a dependable and exemplary person

trump

2 of 3

verb

trumped; trumping; trumps

transitive verb

1

: to get the better of : override

… where ambition invariably trumps loyalty …

—Michael Kramer

2

: to play a trump on (a card or trick) when another suit was led

intransitive verb

: to play a trump when another suit was led

trump

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

a

: trumpet

b

chiefly Scotland : jew's harp

2

: a sound of or as if of trumpeting

the trump of doom

Examples of trump in a Sentence

Verb

She trumped my ace to win the trick.

Their offer for the house was trumped by a higher bid.

The need for blood donors trumps all other concerns.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

China holds a trump card in rare earths — critical minerals necessary for making many items, from smartphones to electric vehicles and fighter jets. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Because of the way that resources are distributed in our fundamentally unequal society, very few people hold the trump cards in terms of wealth and resources over the whole rest of the population. — Nikki McCann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2025

Verb

Work-life balance is the number one factor employees look for when applying to jobs, even trumping a higher paycheck. — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

Minnesota’s top-end talent continues to trump the depth of the Valkyries, whose success conquering the margins doesn’t seem to work against the Lynx’s magic. — Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

alteration of triumph entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English trompe, from Anglo-French trumpe, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German trumba, trumpa trumpet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1586, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing trump

• no-trump
• trump up

Rhymes for trump

• bump
• chump
• clump
• crump
• dump
• gump
• hump
• jump
• lump
• plump
• pump
• rump

Kids Definition

trump

1 of 2 noun

ˈtrəmp 

1

: a card of a suit any of whose cards will win over a card that is of a different suit

also : the suit whose cards are trumps for a particular hand

—often used in plural

2

: trump card

trump

2 of 2 verb

1

: to take with a trump

trump another player's card

2

: to play a trump

3

: to get the better of : outdo

trumped her competitors

Biographical Definition

Trump

biographical name

ˈtrəmp 

Donald J(ohn) 1946–     American businessman and politician; 45th and 47th president of the U.S. (2017–21; 2025–  )