supreme court

noun

often capitalized S&C

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

The presidential election has been annulled by the nation's supreme court, and many Romanians are in shock. —David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024

For the first time in Kentucky's history, women will make up the majority of the state's supreme court. —Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 26 Nov. 2024

Paxton has unsuccessfully sought to block his testimony under oath in the district, appeals and state supreme courts. —Hogan Gore, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024

The expulsion order, one of the largest since the 1967 war, was upheld by Israel’s supreme court in 2022. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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.