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

Eventually, the community provided evidence in a class-action lawsuit at the supreme court, pleading for protection from the police. —Sheila Coronel, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026

Although a Mississippi judge granted Chambliss’ request for a sixth season of college eligibility last month, the NCAA has asked the state’s supreme court to review that ruling. —Matt Baker, New York Times, 12 Mar. 2026

Virginia’s supreme court Friday gave the green light to a planned referendum on a Democratic redistricting map that aims to flip four Republican congressional seats, although the justices are still hearing arguments about whether the plan would be legal. —Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026

The tire dealers come under the closing order in the recent supreme court ruling affecting gasoline stations, according the the mayor. —From Staff Reports, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 5 Feb. 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
• 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.