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

Starting in the 1980s, the Chinese central government targeted becoming a scientific superpower in certain technologies, including biotech.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

This “theatrical diplomacy” illustrates the limits of Beijing’s influence even as it casts itself as a superpower peer to the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The agreement came alongside a wider £31bn package of UK tech investment, lauded as a sign of the country's potential to become an "AI superpower".

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

Investment banking went on to underwrite construction of the railroad, the telephone, and an industrial revolution that turned America into an economic and military superpower.

From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026

And despite my skinny muscles, I had discovered my own superpower.

From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore