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

As the supreme court has recognized, public school officials have both the authority and obligation to provide a safe learning environment for all students, which is what the school did in this case. —Lauren Green, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2025

State supreme court races have increasingly received more attention and spending in recent years, and the three justices help make up the 5-2 Democratic majority in Pennsylvania. —Jared Gans, The Hill, 26 Dec. 2024

Art exhibit about misogyny was only open to women — until a man complained In September the supreme court quashed the tribunal’s ruling, and MONA this week announced that the Ladies Lounge will reopen for a lap of honor from Thursday until mid-January, 2025. —Elizabeth Fortescue, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024

Two lawyers have lodged a lawsuit with the country's supreme court, The Guardian reported on Tuesday, in an attempt to cancel the company's concession to operate the two ports, which are located at both ends of the canal. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 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.