supranational

adjective su·pra·na·tion·al \ ˌsü-prə-ˈnash-nəl , -ˈna-shə-nᵊl , -ˌprä- \

|Updated on: 19 May 2018

Definition of supranational

: transcending national boundaries, authority, or interests

a supranational authority, regulating ocean usage
—N. H. Jacoby

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supranationalism

play \ˌsü-prə-ˈnash-nə-ˌli-zəm, -ˈna-shə-nə-ˌli-, -ˌprä-\ noun

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supranationalist

play \ˌsü-prə-ˈnash-nə-list, -ˌprä-\ noun

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supranationality

play \ˌsü-prə-ˌna-shə-ˈna-lə-tē, -ˌprä-\ noun

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Recent Examples of supranational from the Web

Europe is trying to unite its tribes under a secular, supranational union—and having considerable difficulty.

— reuven brenner, WSJ, "The Roots of Anti-Semitism," 10 May 2018
Those arguments took place against the backdrop of a broader debate about how to apply U.S. law to a supranational network of computers.

— matt ford, The New Republic, "The Court and the Cloud," 28 Feb. 2018
Only a supranational institution such as the EU has the heft and mulish determination to override national attempts to impose banana uniformity, vacuum-cleaner-motor wattage limits or standards for automobile safety systems.

— joseph c. sternberg, WSJ, "Britain Sings the Brexit Blues," 17 Aug. 2017
The modern supranational elite watching raised their phones and nudged each other in admiration as Angelica circled the fountain then climbed up into it to await the 125 other looks.

— luke leitch, Vogue, "Sicilians Do It Better: Dolce & Gabbana Present Their Alta Moda in Palermo," 8 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'supranational.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.