supremacy
noun
su·prem·a·cy
sə-ˈpre-mə-sē 
sü-
also -ˈprē-
plural supremacies
1
: the quality or state of being supreme
especially
: a position of unquestioned authority, dominance, or influence
military/naval supremacy
In the 20th century, two completely different models of how to run an economy battled for supremacy. —
Bill McKibben
Bill McKibben Natal's well-watered valleys … became by the end of the 18th century the site of a contest for supremacy … —Noel Mostert
Noel Mostert Every high school boasts its elite squad of lookers: sparkling teeth, merciless anatomy, sunny filaments of hair … . Between classes, they parade down the halls, trooping their supremacies like Clydesdales. —Richard Lacayo
Richard Lacayo 2
: ultimate authority or power
belief in the supremacy of God
Synonyms of supremacy
Examples of supremacy in a Sentence
the Roman empire had supremacy over the entire Mediterranean world
the supremacy of cashmere among wools accounts for its high price
Recent Examples on the Web
The dealings sparked worries that Silicon Valley AI firms, competing among each other and against China, will leave issues of safety and privacy behind in the frenzied scramble for technological supremacy.
—Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026
It is regularly cited by experts as a key influence on the character and development of the new regime in Iran, helping embed its particular fusion of clerical supremacy and authoritarian nationalism.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
UConn started its program in 2000, and has risen in recent seasons under coach Chris MacKenzie to challenge Northeastern for Hockey East supremacy.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026
Mansour, in a December podcast interview, likened his beef with Coplan with one of the most rousing rivalries in NFL history, the face-off between Tom Brady and Eli Manning over football quarterback supremacy.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for supremacy
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Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2026
It is regularly cited by experts as a key influence on the character and development of the new regime in Iran, helping embed its particular fusion of clerical supremacy and authoritarian nationalism.
—David Brennan, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2026
UConn started its program in 2000, and has risen in recent seasons under coach Chris MacKenzie to challenge Northeastern for Hockey East supremacy.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2026
Mansour, in a December podcast interview, likened his beef with Coplan with one of the most rousing rivalries in NFL history, the face-off between Tom Brady and Eli Manning over football quarterback supremacy.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for supremacy
Cite this Entry
“Supremacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supremacy. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
supremacy
noun
su·prem·a·cy
sə-ˈprem-ə-sē
plural supremacies
1
: the quality or state of being supreme
2
: supreme authority or power
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