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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.


Great Power British  

noun

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of Great Power

First recorded in 1725–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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

From BBC Jan. 9, 2026

In January 2022, on the eve of the full-scale assault, he warned that Russia was not a Great Power and should not be appeased.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 12, 2025

But it is also a preview of what the opening beats of a modern Great Power conflict could look like.

From New York Times Apr. 24, 2024

“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

To call the Great Power "Baali" is to live in one world, and to call it "Ishi" is to live in another.

From The Hidden Power And Other Papers upon Mental Science by Troward, T. (Thomas)

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