supremacy

noun

su·​prem·​a·​cy sə-ˈpre-mə-sē 

sü-,

 also  -ˈprē-

plural supremacies

1

: the quality or state of being supreme

especially : a position of unquestioned authority, dominance, or influence

military/naval supremacy

In the 20th century, two completely different models of how to run an economy battled for supremacy.

—Bill McKibben

Natal's well-watered valleys … became by the end of the 18th century the site of a contest for supremacy …

—Noel Mostert

Every high school boasts its elite squad of lookers: sparkling teeth, merciless anatomy, sunny filaments of hair … . Between classes, they parade down the halls, trooping their supremacies like Clydesdales.

—Richard Lacayo

2

: ultimate authority or power

belief in the supremacy of God

Synonyms

• ascendance
• ascendence
• ascendancy
• ascendency
• dominance
• domination
• dominion
• hegemony
• imperium
• predominance
• predominancy
• preeminence
• reign
• sovereignty
• sovranty

Examples of supremacy in a Sentence

the Roman empire had supremacy over the entire Mediterranean world

the supremacy of cashmere among wools accounts for its high price

Recent Examples on the Web

The Nusra Front then became Al Qaeda’s Syria affiliate and later battled ISIS for supremacy in the battle against Assad. —Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 9 Dec. 2024

The filing draws heavily on the principle of presidential immunity, as detailed by a long-standing DOJ policy, which argues that criminal proceedings against a sitting president would undermine the separation of powers and violate the supremacy clause of the Constitution. —Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Dec. 2024

Novo is vying with Lilly for supremacy in obesity drugs, the pharmaceutical industry’s fastest-growing new business, while an expanding list of rivals rush to develop competing medicines. —Naomi Kresge, Fortune Europe, 6 Nov. 2024

In the 1990s, The Monday Night War was a pivotal turning point and involved two rival wrestling promotions engaged in a ruthless cable television ratings battle for supremacy. —Mark Lasota, Ph.d., Forbes, 1 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

supreme + -acy (as in primacy)

First Known Use

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing supremacy

• white supremacy

Kids Definition

supremacy

noun

su·​prem·​a·​cy sə-ˈprem-ə-sē 

plural supremacies

1

: the quality or state of being supreme

2

: supreme authority or power