supreme court

noun

often capitalized S&C

1

: the highest judicial tribunal in a political unit (such as a nation or state)

2

: a court of original jurisdiction in New York state subordinate to a final court of appeals

Examples of supreme court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As of Friday afternoon, a review of the case’s docket did not indicate that the department had appealed the case to the state supreme court. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025

As a result of the historic ruling, which was upheld by the state's supreme court in 2024, Montana officials are now legally required to factor the climate impacts of new energy projects into their environmental reviews and permitting decisions. —Elisabeth Brier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025

After Roy joined activists fighting against the construction of a dam on the Narmada River, she was convicted of contempt of court for challenging the supreme court’s order to renew construction. —Anderson Tepper, The Atlantic, 8 Sep. 2025

Erin Patterson, who murdered three relatives with poisonous mushrooms, has been given a life prison sentence by the supreme court in Australia. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for supreme court

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• extort

Kids Definition

supreme court

noun

: the highest court in a political unit (as the U.S. or one of its states)

Legal Definition

supreme court

noun

su·​preme court

1

: the highest court in a nation or state

specifically, capitalized S&C : the highest court in the judicial branch of the U.S. government that has original jurisdiction over controversies involving ambassadors or other ministers or consuls but whose main activity is as the court of last resort exercising appellate jurisdiction over cases involving federal law

2

capitalized S&C : a court of original jurisdiction in New York

Note: The court of last resort in New York is the Court of Appeals.