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

So far, both conservative and liberal supreme court justices have seemed skeptical of his arguments. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2025

The extradition was expected after Colombia’s supreme court last month gave its blessing. —Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025

The current congressional map has not been reviewed by the state’s supreme court, of which the majority of justices were appointed by Republicans, and Democrats would like to keep it that way. —Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 29 Oct. 2025

In those states, litigants appeal directly to the state supreme court. —Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 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.