primacy
noun
pri·ma·cy
ˈprī-mə-sē 
1
: the state of being first (as in importance, order, or rank) : preeminence
the primacy of intellectual and esthetic over materialistic values—
T. R. McConnell
T. R. McConnell2
: the office, rank, or preeminence of an ecclesiastical primate
Examples of primacy in a Sentence
Civil law took primacy over religious law.
She has established primacy in her field of study.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hard cuts, double takes, and strange cameos are par for the course with Spike, but those affectations tend to distract from the primacy of this film’s performances.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
Dern makes impassioned and thought-provoking assertions about the primacy of Inland Empire in Lynch’s oeuvre, and the archival behind-the-scenes footage of the director at work on that freewheeling, multi-year indie project is especially revealing.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
For hardcore believers in the primacy of free markets, the collapse of communism was a surprisingly scary time.
—Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Using them publicly—at quarterly or annual meetings or on a good-news bulletin board—reinforces the primacy of these core values within your organization.
—Verne Harnish, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for primacy
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David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 May 2025
Dern makes impassioned and thought-provoking assertions about the primacy of Inland Empire in Lynch’s oeuvre, and the archival behind-the-scenes footage of the director at work on that freewheeling, multi-year indie project is especially revealing.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
For hardcore believers in the primacy of free markets, the collapse of communism was a surprisingly scary time.
—Jennifer Szalai, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Using them publicly—at quarterly or annual meetings or on a good-news bulletin board—reinforces the primacy of these core values within your organization.
—Verne Harnish, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for primacy
Cite this Entry
“Primacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primacy. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
primacy
noun
pri·ma·cy
ˈprī-mə-sē
plural primacies
1
: the state of being first (as in time, place, or rank)
2
: the office or dignity of a bishop of the highest rank
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