superpower

American  

[soo-per-pou-er] / ˈsu pərˌpaʊ ər /

noun

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

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

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

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superpower British  

/ ˈsuːpəˌpaʊə /

noun

1. an extremely powerful state, such as the US

2. extremely high power, esp electrical or mechanical

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Other Word Forms

• superpowered adjective

Etymology

Origin of superpower

First recorded in 1920–25; super- + power

Example Sentences

But the EU, whose collective gross domestic product still rivals China’s as the global No. 2, has it eyes on a bigger role: anchor for a rest-of-the-world seeking alternatives to two increasingly heavy-handed superpowers.

From Barron's

But, with Robertson's dismissal on Thursday, there is a sense of a superpower in decline.

From BBC

It has long been recognized that the U.S. is a superpower, a sovereign state able to exert its influence and force on a global scale.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It would raise questions about the viability of the U.S. as a superpower,” says Dan Alamariu, chief geopolitical strategist at Alpine Macro.

From Barron's

The summit will deal the biggest issues facing the world's two superpowers.

From BBC