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

Derived 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

Although smaller and newer than IBM, Quantinuum is nonetheless a rising quantum superpower.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

It is a testament to his superpower that he still wants to push himself to such limits against much younger opponents.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

His condition is both a superpower and a vulnerability, as we see when he discovers a dangerous new skill, cracking safes, with his unique ability to hear the tumblers of the lock moving internally.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

OTTAWA—Canada unveiled a deal to sell liquefied natural gas to Germany, marking a significant step in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s effort to capitalize on its oil-and-gas reserves and position the country as an energy superpower.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

What we need is a form of hindsight that does not impose itself arbitrarily on the mentality of the revolutionary generation, does not presume that we are witnessing the birth of an inevitable American superpower.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis