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

3

: 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

The 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

superpowered

ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)rd 

adjective

Examples of superpower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s on the top of everyone’s list of superpowers. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 11 July 2024

These Minions, as seen in the clip above and images below, are essentially Minions who get superpowers while working for the Anti-Villain League under Silas Ramsbottom (Steve Coogan), who is called out of retirement to take down a new villain, Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell). —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 3 July 2024

Volkswagen’s long-running headache with software A number of EVs like the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3 hit the market around the same time that Tesla launched the Model S in 2012, when Elon Musk’s superpower was simply making the technology desirable. —Alena Botros, Fortune, 26 June 2024

Video Ad Feedback The UAE is aiming to be an AI superpower 08:57 - Source: CNN The UAE has laid out a national strategy to get there. —Amy Gunia, CNN, 26 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

superpower

noun

su·​per·​pow·​er ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 

: an extremely powerful nation