supremacy

The state of having more power or control than anyone else.

• The country sought naval supremacy.
• The two armies fought for supremacy in the region.
• Parliament challenged the king’s supremacy.

How to use it: supremacy over someone/something (The empire established supremacy over its neighbours.)

Similar words: dominance, supreme power

Opposites: subordination

Common phrases: military supremacy, naval supremacy, supremacy over someone

The belief that one group is better than others and should have power over them.

• She spoke out against white supremacy.
• The group promotes an ideology of racial supremacy.
• Schools teach students to reject ideas of racial supremacy.

Similar words: supremacism

Common phrases: white supremacy, racial supremacy, reject supremacy

The state of being better than all others in a particular area.

• The victory confirmed the team’s supremacy.
• They challenged our supremacy in the sport.
• This invention helped establish their technical supremacy.

How to use it: supremacy in something (The teams are competing for supremacy in European football.)

Similar words: superiority, preeminence

Opposites: inferiority

Common phrases: technical supremacy, sporting supremacy, achieve supremacy

A situation in which one social group has more rights, advantages, or power than others.

• The laws helped maintain male supremacy.
• The report examines white supremacy within public institutions.
• Campaigners challenged the social structures that supported male supremacy.

Similar words: dominance, privilege

Opposites: equality

Common phrases: male supremacy, white supremacy, maintain supremacy