superpower
noun
su·per·pow·er
ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 
1
: excessive or superior power
2
a
: an extremely powerful nation
specifically
: one of a very few dominant states in an era when the world is divided politically into these states and their satellites
b
: an international governing body able to enforce its will upon the most powerful states
c
: an extremely powerful company, organization, etc.
The retailer hoped to become a financial services superpower …—
Patricia Sellers
Patricia Sellers3
: a power or ability (such as the ability to become invisible or to fly) of the kind possessed by superheroes : a superhuman power
The Fantastic Four first appeared in November 1961, originating with four friends who journeyed to space to thwart the Russians from getting there first. They were overwhelmed by a menacing radiation cloud and their molecular structure was altered, giving each of them superpowers.—Laura Mattoon D'Amore
Laura Mattoon D'AmoreThe superpower I've always wished for is invisibility, and I chose my vocation accordingly. A novelist gets 140,000 words per one tiny author photo. That's a visibility ratio I can live with.—Barbara Kingsolver
Barbara KingsolverExamples of superpower in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But in recent years, America has often stopped looking like the global hegemon and started looking like a shrinking superpower.
—Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
Harnessing these forensic investigations, the team leverages the latest science to reveal superpower adaptations and migration patterns that have been taking place for eons.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
And his activity for a guard is one of his current superpowers.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
And as the superpowers moved on from Cold War battlefields, the ideological paradigms that had once made Central American revolutions feel globally significant faded with them.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for superpower
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
Harnessing these forensic investigations, the team leverages the latest science to reveal superpower adaptations and migration patterns that have been taking place for eons.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
And his activity for a guard is one of his current superpowers.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
And as the superpowers moved on from Cold War battlefields, the ideological paradigms that had once made Central American revolutions feel globally significant faded with them.
—Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for superpower
Cite this Entry
“Superpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superpower. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
superpower
noun
su·per·pow·er
ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r
: an extremely powerful nation
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share