supremacy
/suˈpreməsi/ (bre, ipa) · [səprˈɛməsi] /suˈpreməsi/ (ame, ipa) · [səprˈɛməsi] /sə-ˈpre-mə-sē How to pronounce supremacy (audio) sü- also -ˈprē-/ (ame, mw)
supremacy — noun
1. the condition of being in the highest position of influence or command, where no
the condition of being in the highest position of influence or command, where no one else has as much control
During the Cold War, both superpowers competed for military supremacy across the globe.
collocation: military supremacy / global supremacy
The company's supremacy in smartphone technology was challenged by new competitors from Asia.
Rodrigo argued that no single nation should claim cultural supremacy over others.
Naoko's research examined how the British Empire maintained its naval supremacy for over two centuries.
Quinn watches as the two parties battle for political supremacy in the town council elections.
- dominance
more general and slightly less formal; emphasizes having the most influence or control
- hegemony
more specific and formal; refers to leadership or dominance of one group over others, especially in politics or culture
- pre-eminence
highly formal; emphasizes being outstanding or surpassing all others in quality or rank
- superiority
focuses on being better in quality or status rather than having direct control over others
- inferiority
the state of being lower in status, rank, or quality
- subordination
the state of being under someone else's authority or control
文法句型
supremacy over [someone/something]
[possessive] + supremacy
supremacy in [domain]
用法筆記
Typically followed by 'over' when specifying who or what is being dominated. Subject is often a country, military force, organization, or political group. Frequently appears in discussions of military, political, economic, or technological power.
常見錯誤
2. the state of being better than all others in a particular activity, skill, or fi
the state of being better than all others in a particular activity, skill, or field of achievement
The chef's supremacy in pastry-making was recognized by food critics around the world.
collocation: supremacy in [field]
Ingrid trained for many years to achieve supremacy in traditional Japanese calligraphy.
The youth football team's supremacy was clear after they won five championships in a row.
Baraka's novel asserted its supremacy over the other entries and won the national literary prize.
Many experts consider the university's supremacy in engineering research to be beyond question.
- excellence
broader and more commonly used; emphasizes high quality without necessarily being number one
- pre-eminence
more formal; stresses being widely recognized as the best in a particular field
- distinction
focuses on being set apart or honored for exceptional quality
- mediocrity
the state of being average or ordinary, rather than outstanding
文法句型
supremacy in [activity/field]
[possessive] + supremacy
用法筆記
Commonly followed by 'in' to specify the area of excellence. Narrower in scope than sense 1 — typically applies to competitive fields such as sports, arts, academic disciplines, or skilled trades. Less likely to describe military or political power.