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Synonyms

supremacy

American  
[suh-prem-uh-see, soo-] / səˈprɛm ə si, sʊ- /

noun

  1. the state of being supreme.

  2. supreme authority or power.


supremacy British  
/ sʊˈprɛməsɪ, sjʊ- /

noun

  1. supreme power; authority

  2. the quality or condition of being supreme

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of supremacy

First recorded in 1540–50; supreme + -acy

Explanation

Supremacy is the state of having the ultimate authority. A ruling king has supremacy over his kingdom. When one group dominates another, it has supremacy. One country's army might have military supremacy over another, or your favorite baseball team might gain supremacy in the third game of the World Series, meaning it has power over the other team in the series. Supremacy comes from the Latin word supremus, which means highest.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Warnings of an AI apocalypse hang heavy over the Chinese president's first talks at the White House with his US counterpart, with both countries racing for supremacy in this technology.

From Barron's Sep. 17, 2026

"The thought that all of these beautiful creatures and habitats could be compromised as superpowers slug it out for supremacy is sobering."

From Barron's Sep. 16, 2026

New Zealand had ducked and dived to minimise the effect of South Africa's set-piece supremacy.

From BBC Sep. 5, 2026

Its predicament speaks to the intense competition that defines the race for AI supremacy.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 1, 2026

By the second decade of the twentieth century, black America had come to a fork in the road and had to choose: accommodation to white supremacy or unyielding opposition to it.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

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