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 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
Kareem Abdul-JabbarThe 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
The Power Keyboard offers a 2150mAh battery that can top off a phone battery via MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging, but its real superpower is its full keyboard that can connect to your phone or smart device over Bluetooth.
—Allison Johnson, The Verge, 2 Jan. 2026
But managing that discomfort is arguably better than relying on an ambivalent superpower.
—Amanda Sloat, Time, 2 Jan. 2026
Beloved family dog Charlie (voiced by Owen Wilson) is abducted by aliens and—naturally—comes back with superpowers!
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 1 Jan. 2026
The speech was Xi’s most upbeat New Year’s Eve address in recent years, coming after his government overcame a multitude of challenges to underscore China’s status as a rising global superpower.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for superpower
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Allison Johnson, The Verge, 2 Jan. 2026
But managing that discomfort is arguably better than relying on an ambivalent superpower.
—Amanda Sloat, Time, 2 Jan. 2026
Beloved family dog Charlie (voiced by Owen Wilson) is abducted by aliens and—naturally—comes back with superpowers!
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 1 Jan. 2026
The speech was Xi’s most upbeat New Year’s Eve address in recent years, coming after his government overcame a multitude of challenges to underscore China’s status as a rising global superpower.
—Bloomberg, Fortune, 31 Dec. 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 4 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
superpower
noun
su·per·pow·er
ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r
: an extremely powerful nation
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