primacy

American  

[prahy-muh-see] / ˈpraɪ mə si /

noun

plural

primacies

1. the state of being first in order, rank, importance, etc.

2. Also called primateship.  English Ecclesiastics. the office, rank, or dignity of a primate.

3. Roman Catholic Church. the jurisdiction of a bishop, as a patriarch, over other bishoprics, or the supreme jurisdiction of the pope as supreme bishop.

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primacy British  

/ ˈpraɪməsɪ /

noun

1. the state of being first in rank, grade, etc

2. Christianity the office, rank, or jurisdiction of a primate or senior bishop or (in the Roman Catholic Church) the pope

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Etymology

Origin of primacy

1350–1400; Middle English primacie < Medieval Latin prīmātia, alteration of Latin prīmātus ( prīm ( us ) prime + -ātus -ate ³ ); -y ³

Example Sentences

The last time the U.S. enjoyed primacy as the sole superpower was a quarter-century ago, for a decade after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the primacy of their bond remains the same.

From Salon

He paid special attention to researcher recruiting, to reflect the new primacy of AI.

From The Wall Street Journal

The European leaders insisted on the primacy of the U.S. role in security guarantees offered to Ukraine in any deal.

From The Wall Street Journal

Drawing on nearly 90,000 assessments, the largest data set of its kind, the results challenge the conventional wisdom about the primacy of family in our culture, with implications both personal and professional.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• domination