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
Just like these are three very different snapshots of women pushing 60, in novels protagonists of a certain age are generally divided into two camps:
One, where age is their superpower by virtue of draping them in a cloak of invisibility and/or by having rained down heaps of wisdom upon them.
—Sue Hincenbergs, People.com, 28 June 2025
In this economy, intelligent agility is your superpower.
—Mike De Vere, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
The Parr family is as exciting as ever with their multifaceted superpowers.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 26 June 2025
As the Cold War faded into history, Moscow and Washington, the world’s two nuclear superpowers, had long been working together to reduce their arsenals.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
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Sue Hincenbergs, People.com, 28 June 2025
In this economy, intelligent agility is your superpower.
—Mike De Vere, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
The Parr family is as exciting as ever with their multifaceted superpowers.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 26 June 2025
As the Cold War faded into history, Moscow and Washington, the world’s two nuclear superpowers, had long been working together to reduce their arsenals.
—Vipin Narang, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 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 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
superpower
noun
su·per·pow·er
ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r
: an extremely powerful nation
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