superpower

noun

su·​per·​pow·​er ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 

1

: excessive or superior power

2

a

: an extremely powerful nation

specifically : one of a very few dominant states in an era when the world is divided politically into these states and their satellites

b

: an international governing body able to enforce its will upon the most powerful states

c

: an extremely powerful company, organization, etc.

The retailer hoped to become a financial services superpower …

—Patricia Sellers

3

: a power or ability (such as the ability to become invisible or to fly) of the kind possessed by superheroes : a superhuman power

The Fantastic Four first appeared in November 1961, originating with four friends who journeyed to space to thwart the Russians from getting there first. They were overwhelmed by a menacing radiation cloud and their molecular structure was altered, giving each of them superpowers.

—Laura Mattoon D'Amore

The superpower I've always wished for is invisibility, and I chose my vocation accordingly. A novelist gets 140,000 words per one tiny author photo. That's a visibility ratio I can live with.

—Barbara Kingsolver

superpowered

ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)rd 

adjective

Examples of superpower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The mentor Steffen’s 6-foot-3 frame and increasingly explosive athleticism are nothing to scoff at, but his superpower isn’t necessarily physical. —Braidon Nourse, The Denver Post, 16 Feb. 2025

His superpower is his ability to maintain a high floor through savvy, intelligence and mental toughness. —Brody Miller, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025

His admittedly lame superpower is calculating the odds of things. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025

The leaders of the world’s two rival superpowers have plenty to talk about. —David Pierson, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

superpower

noun

su·​per·​pow·​er ˈsü-pər-ˌpau̇(-ə)r 

: an extremely powerful nation