Great Power

American  

noun

1. a nation that has exceptional military and economic strength, and consequently plays a major, often decisive, role in international affairs.

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Great Power British  

noun

1. a nation that has exceptional political influence, resources, and military strength

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Other Word Forms

• Great-Power
  adjective
• great-power
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of Great Power

First recorded in 1725–35

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Great Power

Eisenhower was dismissive of Churchill’s attempts to revive the wartime spirit of Great Power summitry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

"The EU cannot be a Great Power, nor can any of its constituent nations," he argues.

From BBC ● Jan. 9, 2026

“In the two current Great Power competitions, the United States is essentially on the tactical defensive,” he points out.

From Washington Post ● May 4, 2022

In the Navy’s defense, threats shifted swiftly from the Cold War to the war on terror to the current Great Power Competition in which Russia and China are asserting themselves, he said.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2022

Serbia, which had been enlarged to double its size, was far from being satisfied; but, on the contrary, was more than ever ambitious of becoming a Great Power.

From In the World War by Ottokar Theobald Otto Maria, Graf Czernin von und zu Chudenitz

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