superpower

American  

[soo-per-pau-er] / ˈsu pərˌpaʊ ər /

noun

• superpowers
  plural

1. an extremely powerful nation, especially one capable of influencing international events and the acts and policies of less powerful nations.

2. power greater in scope or magnitude than that which is considered natural or has previously existed.

3. power, especially mechanical or electric power, on an extremely large scale secured by the linking together of a number of separate power systems, with a view to more efficient and economical generation and distribution.

---

superpower British  

/ ˈsuːpəˌpaʊə /

noun

1. an extremely powerful state, such as the US

2. extremely high power, esp electrical or mechanical

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• superpowered
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• superpowers
  plural

Etymology

Origin of superpower

First recorded in 1920–25; super- + power

Explanation

The noun superpower is good for talking about a very powerful country, especially one that's strong enough to influence the way other countries act. When one country dominates the world politically, that country is called a superpower. The United States is considered to be a superpower, and throughout most of the twentieth century, so was the Soviet Union. Political scholars have their eye on China to emerge as the next superpower in the world. Officially, one step lower than a superpower is a great power, which has slightly less influence in the world.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

superpower superpowers

It means that China has the leading two players in the rankings for the first time, further illustrating the country's position as a snooker superpower.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

If he somehow finds a miraculous recharge for his ring, he will use his superpower to foment further revenge and retribution.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

In Kelce’s heyday, his superpower was reeling in passes from Mahomes and then picking up huge chunks of yards with his legs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

It was a visual affair designed to project a new phase of managed competition between a prevailing superpower and a rising one — a message that Washington and Beijing are ultimately capable of responsible leadership.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

By 1983, the surge in superpower hostility had made life in the KGB's London residency even more oppressive than usual.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

There are the now-traditional scenes in which Carrie learns to consciously control her telekinetic superpowers, previously manifested by accidentally setting off car alarms, opening mailboxes and causing a rain of rocks on her parents’ roof.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

Learning how to fall and pretending you have superpowers can’t cancel out physics.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

The two superpowers will talk about the future of what they’ve agreed to call “superintelligence.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 28, 2026

US President Donald Trump will host Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week in Washington, with everything from AI to trade and Taiwan on the agenda for the leaders of the global superpowers.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

I guess I got so accustomed to seeing him, I didn’t really think about his foggy eyes or if he had superpowers.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio