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
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
His latest record of 6.23 meters, achieved at last year’s world championships, is seven centimeters higher than anyone else has managed in the history of the sport, a testament to his supremacy in the pole vault over the past four years.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Tensions between citizens of African and Indian descent, encouraged under colonialism, turned violent at independence and set off a bitter contest for governing supremacy that continues to this day.
—Gaiutra Bahadur Keisha Scarville, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024
But the Chinese foreign policy establishment remains torn about whether Beijing should directly and immediately challenge the leadership of the United States for a shot at supremacy.
—Lily Kuo, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
Mateschitz infiltrated the sport quickly and retains supremacy in Formula 1 unlike any other brand in sport, according to Clegg.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024
On Tuesday, Prime Video unveiled the trailer for its upcoming series The GOAT, which features some of the biggest names from The Bachelor, Love Is Blind, Big Brother and Real Housewives vying for reality TV supremacy and a $200,000 prize.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
The San Francisco Giants, also hoping to challenge the Dodgers for supremacy in the NL West, signed both Snell and Chapman as well as Jorge Soler, Jung Hoo Lee, and Jordan Hicks during an active off-season.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2024
Stroud was almost perfect a week earlier against a Cleveland defense that had vied with the Ravens for statistical supremacy throughout the regular season.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2024
The battle for auto industry supremacy is just one element of a worsening trade climate between China and its major customers in Europe and the United States.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024
George Ramsay, CNN, 11 Apr. 2024
Tensions between citizens of African and Indian descent, encouraged under colonialism, turned violent at independence and set off a bitter contest for governing supremacy that continues to this day.
—Gaiutra Bahadur Keisha Scarville, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2024
But the Chinese foreign policy establishment remains torn about whether Beijing should directly and immediately challenge the leadership of the United States for a shot at supremacy.
—Lily Kuo, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2024
Mateschitz infiltrated the sport quickly and retains supremacy in Formula 1 unlike any other brand in sport, according to Clegg.
—James Raia, The Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2024
On Tuesday, Prime Video unveiled the trailer for its upcoming series The GOAT, which features some of the biggest names from The Bachelor, Love Is Blind, Big Brother and Real Housewives vying for reality TV supremacy and a $200,000 prize.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 26 Mar. 2024
The San Francisco Giants, also hoping to challenge the Dodgers for supremacy in the NL West, signed both Snell and Chapman as well as Jorge Soler, Jung Hoo Lee, and Jordan Hicks during an active off-season.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 26 Mar. 2024
Stroud was almost perfect a week earlier against a Cleveland defense that had vied with the Ravens for statistical supremacy throughout the regular season.
—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 21 Jan. 2024
The battle for auto industry supremacy is just one element of a worsening trade climate between China and its major customers in Europe and the United States.
—David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'supremacy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near supremacy
Cite this Entry
“Supremacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supremacy. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
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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