supreme court

noun

variants often Supreme Court

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

The supreme courts of Michigan, Ohio and Oklahoma have all prohibited seizing private property to give it to another private party purely for economic development. — Aaron Walayat, The Conversation, 16 July 2026

Radio show host and former diplomat Vladimir Villegas says that before holding elections, Venezuela must first replace its highly partisan electoral council and supreme court. — John Otis, NPR, 16 July 2026

Kansas governors appoint supreme court justices from a short list of three candidates vetted by a commission composed of members representing specific geographic areas of the state. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026

But Germany’s supreme court previously has set a very high bar for banning parties. — David Keyton, Christian Science Monitor, 4 July 2026

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
• disport
• distort
• escort
• exhort

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.