1
: excessive or superior power
2
a
: an extremely powerful nation
specifically : one of a very few dominant states in an era when the world is divided politically into these states and their satellites
b
: an international governing body able to enforce its will upon the most powerful states
c
: an extremely powerful company, organization, etc.
The retailer hoped to become a financial services superpower Patricia Sellers
3
: a power or ability (such as the ability to become invisible or to fly) of the kind possessed by superheroes : a superhuman power
The Fantastic Four first appeared in November 1961, originating with four friends who journeyed to space to thwart the Russians from getting there first. They were overwhelmed by a menacing radiation cloud and their molecular structure was altered, giving each of them superpowers. Laura Mattoon D'Amore
The superpower I've always wished for is invisibility, and I chose my vocation accordingly. A novelist gets 140,000 words per one tiny author photo. That's a visibility ratio I can live with. Barbara Kingsolver

Examples of superpower in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Nations would undoubtedly argue that advancing AI for their nation is needed to keep their country on par with the global community, perhaps even to stand out as a geo-economic and political superpower, see my coverage at the link here. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 That’s allowing China to portray itself as the most reliable superpower, diplomats here say. Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald, 19 Mar. 2025 What qualifies as a personal superpower in today’s world? Scott Mautz, Contributor, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025 Saudi Arabia, a country that is largely made up of desert, has fewer than 40 million people, and boasts a middling military with no nuclear arms, may be emerging as the 21st century’s most improbable superpower. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for superpower

Word History

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of superpower was in 1849

Cite this Entry

“Superpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superpower. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

superpower

noun
: an extremely powerful nation

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