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 comic book Ms. Marvel offers a Muslim-American girl from New Jersey who practices her faith while using her superpower to help people.

—Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

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

While some other creatures, most notably salamanders and starfish, can regenerate entire limbs, mammals don’t have this evolutionary superpower. —Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Apr. 2026

Finding the mysticism in pedestrian life requires artful transfiguration, which is Moales’ lyrical superpower. —Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 8 Apr. 2026

Was that an inspiration at all for her weird new superpower? —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 8 Apr. 2026

Size has been Michigan’s superpower all season, but its shortest player was the one who ascended on the biggest stage. —Justin Williams, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for superpower

• candlepower
• cauliflower
• overpower
• vavasour
• waterpower
• airpower
• brainpower
• devour
• empower
• firepower
• horsepower
• manpower

Kids Definition

superpower

noun

su·​per·​pow·​er ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 

: an extremely powerful nation