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

In any event, though again, this aspect of performance is up to OEM configuration somewhat, performance on battery power is indeed one of this Snapdragon X laptop’s superpowers. —Dave Altavilla, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

The world wants to know: What kind of superpower will America be in the years to come? —New York Times, 3 Nov. 2024

Living Proof Triple Bond Complex is loaded with moisture-sealing lipids and strengthening peptides to reduce frizz and add softness, but its real superpower is reversing damage. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 Oct. 2024

But China’s emergence as a scientific superpower and the U.S.’s biggest economic and military rival has led to a slew of efforts to restrict Sino-American research collaborations, often supported by both parties. —Byjeffrey Mervis, science.org, 16 Oct. 2024

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