supremacy
gb/səpɹˈɛməsi/ us/səpɹˈɛməsi/
C1
English
~ 7100
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
state
1
the state of being the most powerful
The state of being stronger, more powerful, or more important than everyone or everything else.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something]'s supremacy in/over [a field/group/place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *supremacy* to praise a single good quality (e.g., *the supremacy of this cake*), where *superiority* or *excellence* sounds more natural. *Supremacy* usually refers to broad power, control, or overall leading position, often in politics, war, business, or sports, not just a small, everyday preference.
Synonyms
dominance (More common and slightly less formal; often used in everyday speech and sports.)
|
preeminence (Stresses being the best or most important, often in a respected field like art or science.)
|
hegemony (Technical and political; often used for the dominance of one state over others.)
Antonyms
inferiority (Focuses on being lower in status or quality, the opposite of being supreme.)
|
equality (Opposes the idea that one party is above all others by stressing equal status or power.)
|
subordination (Describes being placed in a lower rank or under someone else's authority.)
Collocations
maintain supremacy
|assert supremacy
|challenge supremacy
|economic supremacy
|military supremacy
|supremacy in the league
Themes
politics
|power
|sports
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- For decades, the company enjoyed unquestioned supremacy in the smartphone market.
- The team's tactical changes ended their rivals' long period of supremacy in the league.
- Naval supremacy in the region allowed the country to control key trade routes.
- The treaty effectively broke the empire's military supremacy in Europe.
- China and the United States are competing for technological supremacy.
Learner examples
- Her team has supremacy in the league this year.
- The country lost its economic supremacy after the crisis.
- Several new brands are challenging the old company's supremacy.
- They hope to gain supremacy in the local market.
- Air supremacy was important for winning the war.
Noun
C1
entity
2
belief that one group must dominate
The belief that one race or group is better than other people and should rule or control them.
Usage pattern:
supremacy of [a group] over [another group]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *supremacy* with simple *pride* or *loyalty* to a group. *Supremacy* here always involves the idea that one group is higher and should rule others, and it is strongly negative in modern use. In many contexts, it is better to say *racism*, *racist beliefs*, or *racist ideology* when you mean prejudice in general.
Synonyms
racial dominance (Describes the same idea but sounds slightly more descriptive and less like the name of a formal ideology.)
|
racist ideology (Broader term; not only about being on top, but about any belief system based on racism.)
Antonyms
racial equality (Directly opposes the idea that one race should be above others by insisting on equal rights and status.)
|
multiculturalism (Emphasizes respect and coexistence among different cultures rather than one group ruling others.)
Collocations
white supremacy
|racial supremacy
|ideology of supremacy
|supremacy movement
|supremacy group
Themes
politics
|society
|discrimination
|history
|relationships
Examples
- The group openly promotes white supremacy and has been labeled a hate organization.
- Schools are working to address symbols and language that have roots in racial supremacy.
- The documentary explores how ideas of supremacy were used to justify colonial rule.
- Law enforcement has increased its focus on online communities that spread messages of supremacy.
- Her research traces the history of religious supremacy in the region and its impact on minorities.
Learner examples
- White supremacy is a racist belief.
- The government spoke strongly against all forms of supremacy.
- Many people protested groups that support racial supremacy.
- Books teaching supremacy of one race are banned in that country.
- They are working to stop the spread of supremacy ideas online.
Noun
technical
C2
relation
3
higher legal authority over other law
In law, the idea that one kind of law is stronger than another kind of law and wins when they disagree.
Usage pattern:
the supremacy of [a legal body/law] over [another legal body/law]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *supremacy* and *sovereignty* as if they were the same. *Sovereignty* is about a state's own highest power inside its territory; *supremacy* in law is about one law or legal system being higher than another when they conflict.
Synonyms
primacy (Technical and often used in legal and EU contexts to mean that one rule takes priority over another.)
Antonyms
subordination (In legal theory, refers to being placed under the authority of another legal body or norm.)
Collocations
constitutional supremacy
|parliamentary supremacy
|Supremacy Clause
|judicial supremacy
|supremacy of EU law
Themes
law
|politics
|government
Examples
- The court reaffirmed the supremacy of the constitution over ordinary legislation.
- In some systems, parliamentary supremacy means that no other body can overrule laws passed by parliament.
- Debates about the supremacy of EU law have shaped the country's relationship with the union.
- The Supremacy Clause establishes the supremacy of federal law over state law in the United States.
- Judicial supremacy is criticized by those who believe elected bodies should have the final say.
Learner examples
- In that country, the supremacy of the constitution is very clear.
- Law students must understand the supremacy of federal law over state law.
- Parliamentary supremacy gives parliament the highest law-making power.
- The court used the idea of legal supremacy to decide the case.
- Many people do not know about the Supremacy Clause and its rule of supremacy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
supremacy
IPA
GB/səpɹˈɛməsi/
US/səpɹˈɛməsi/
Syllables & stress
su - prem - acy (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (prem)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: supremacy
- Plural: supremacy
Word family
Core family
supreme
adjective B2
supremely
adverb
Related words
supremacist
noun
Advanced or less common
supremacism
noun
Expressions
air supremacy
1/ˈɛɹ səpɹˈɛməsi/
fixed phrase
technical
complete military control of the air
A military situation where one side controls the air so well that the enemy cannot use its planes in an effective way.
Examples
- Air supremacy allowed ground forces to advance with much less risk.
- The general argued that achieving air supremacy was the top priority in the conflict.
- Modern armies invest heavily in fighter jets to gain air supremacy early in a war.
racial supremacy
1/ɹˈeɪʃəl səpɹˈɛməsi/
fixed phrase
belief in superiority of a race
The belief that one race is better than other races and should have power over them.
Examples
- The party's platform was accused of encouraging ideas of racial supremacy.
- Many laws were once written to protect racial supremacy rather than equality.
- Education programs aim to challenge racial supremacy and promote respect for all groups.
Supremacy Clause
1/səpɹˈɛməsi klˈɔz/
fixed phrase
technical
US rule that federal law prevails
The part of the U.S. Constitution that says federal law is stronger than state law when they disagree.
Examples
- Students had to explain how the Supremacy Clause affects conflicts between state and federal law.
- The court cited the Supremacy Clause as the reason the state law could not be applied.
- Understanding the Supremacy Clause is essential for anyone studying American constitutional law.
white supremacy
1/wˈaɪt səpɹˈɛməsi/
fixed phrase
racist belief in white dominance
The racist belief that white people are better than other races and should have control over them.
Examples
- The documentary examines how white supremacy has shaped the country's laws and culture.
- Authorities are monitoring online spaces where white supremacy is openly promoted.
- The museum's new exhibit confronts the history of white supremacy and its lasting effects.