primacy

noun pri·ma·cy \ ˈprī-mə-sē \

Updated on: 24 Apr 2018

Definition of primacy

1 : the state of being first (as in importance, order, or rank) : preeminence

the primacy of intellectual and esthetic over materialistic values
—T. R. McConnell

2 : the office, rank, or preeminence of an ecclesiastical primate

See primacy defined for English-language learners

See primacy defined for kids

Examples of primacy in a Sentence

Civil law took primacy over religious law.
She has established primacy in her field of study.

Recent Examples of primacy from the Web

The caucasity lies in their immediate dismissal of any object that might pose a threat to the continued primacy of whiteness.

— michael harriot, The Root, "‘Diversity of Thought’ Is Just a Euphemism for ‘White Supremacy’," 12 Apr. 2018
Will Hamas be able to sustain a nonviolent campaign despite the primacy of militants in its leadership?

— imad alsoos, Washington Post, "Why Hamas is protesting in Gaza — and why it will continue," 8 Apr. 2018
Both trace their authority to the primacy of the word; both offer uplift to the common man, acting as his paternalistic confessor and instructor.

— alexander nazaryan, Newsweek, "Review: 'Spotlight' Explores the Sins of the Fathers," 8 Oct. 2015
Maintaining American technological primacy in key industries should be a key consideration of U.S. antitrust policy—not just reducing concentration ratios in particular industries.

— michael lind, Fortune, "Commentary: Who Wins After U.S. Antitrust Regulators Attack? China.," 29 Mar. 2018
No one living on planet Earth in 2018 could reasonably question Netflix's primacy in the world of prestige TV.

— refinery29.com, "Steven Spielberg Has Got Netflix Movies All Wrong — But So Does Netflix," 27 Mar. 2018
Photo: johannes eisele/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images Sheer economic heft isn’t enough to guarantee a currency international primacy.

— mike bird, WSJ, "China Tries to Lift Yuan’s Profile With Oil Futures," 26 Mar. 2018
Many in the Pentagon want China to attempt to overtly challenge the United States within domains where the United States enjoys a distinct military advantage, and for China to fail in order to reestablish U.S. primacy.

— chicagotribune.com, "America's military is nostalgic for great-power wars," 13 Mar. 2018
Their priority is aiding the party that shares their view of the primacy of protecting the makers from the takers.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Donald Trump’s Presidency Is the Libertarian Moment," 29 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'primacy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.