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 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.

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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

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

In a few weeks you will be celebrating 250 years of your Declaration of Independence, of not having another superpower interfere in the issues of the United States.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

China, she will say, is now a science and tech superpower with sophisticated capabilities "across their intelligence, cyber and military agencies".

From BBC • May 26, 2026

But for many analysts on Wall Street, leaning into “unexciting” applications across its numerous business surfaces might just be Google’s superpower, providing a much-needed monetization outlet to justify the exorbitant costs of developing the technology.

From MarketWatch • May 20, 2026

US President Donald Trump will seek trade wins during final meetings with Xi Jinping on Friday at a superpower summit overshadowed by the Chinese leader's uncharacteristically sharp warning on Taiwan.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

My uncle Paul likes to think of it as a superpower, something from a comic book or a movie.

From "The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl" by Stacy McAnulty