Definition
The state of being superior to all others in authority, power, or status; ultimate dominance.
Etymology
From Latin supremus meaning 'highest' or 'last,' with suffix -acy denoting state or condition. Entered English in the 16th century during debates over royal versus papal authority.
Kelly Says
The word supremacy carries the mathematical precision of 'supreme' - not just being better, but being the absolute maximum, like reaching the peak of a mountain where no higher point exists.
Translations
BNবাংলা
সার্বভৌমত্ব
sarbobhoumotwo
CACatalà
supremacia
soo-preh-MAH-see-ah
CSČeština
nadvláda
nahd-vlah-dah
DADansk
overherredømme
oh-ver-hreh-dom
DEDeutsch
Vorherrschaft
fohr-hair-shahft
ELΕλληνικά
υπερηφάνεια
y-per-ee-fah-NEE-ah
ESEspañol
supremacía
soo-preh-MAH-see-ah
FISuomi
ylivertaisuus
y-lee-vair-tah-soos
FRFrançais
suprématie
syoo-prey-mah-TEE
GUGU
સાર્વભૌમત્વ
saarvabhoumatva
HAHA
matsayin
mah-tsah-yin
HEעברית
עליונות
a-lee-yoh-NOHT
HIहिन्दी
सर्वोच्चता
sarvocchata
HUMagyar
felsőbbség
feh-loh-besh
IDBahasa Indonesia
kekuasaan
keh-koo-ah-sahn
IGIG
nke elu
n-keh eh-loo
ITItaliano
supremazia
soo-preh-MAH-tsee-ah
MRMR
सर्वोच्चता
sarvocchata
MSBahasa Melayu
kekuasaan
keh-koo-ah-sahn
MYမြန်မာ
အထက်အမြတ်
ahtet amyat
NLNederlands
soevereiniteit
soh-vay-reh-nee-tayt
NONorsk
overhøyhet
oh-ver-hoy-het
PAPA
ਸਰਬਉੱਚਤਾ
sarab-oochata
PLPolski
przewaga
pshay-vah-gah
PTPortuguês
supremacia
soo-preh-MAH-see-ah
RORomână
supremație
soo-preh-MAH-tsee-eh
RUРусский
верховенство
vyer-khah-VYEN-stvah
SVSvenska
överhöghet
oo-veh-hoh-het
SWKiswahili
kuwa na mamlaka
koo-wah nah mahm-lah-kah
TAதமிழ்
மேலாதிக்கம்
mēlādhikkam
TEతెలుగు
అధికారం
adhikaaram
TLTL
nangungupahan
nah-noong-goo-pah-hahn
TRTürkçe
üstünlük
oo-stoo-nlook
UKУкраїнська
верховенство
vyer-khah-VYEN-stvah
URاردو
عالی ترین
aala tarin
VITiếng Việt
tuyệt đối
tuyet doi
ZUZU
ukukhulu
oo-koo-khoo-loo
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
White supremacist and male supremacist ideologies are historically intertwined; women of color face compounded oppression. Supremacy discourse often erases intersectional victimization of women.
Inclusive Usage
When analyzing supremacy, center women's experiences of oppression. Avoid gender-neutral framing that obscures gendered harms of hierarchical ideologies.
Empowerment Note
Women organizers like Ella Baker and Fannie Lou Hamer have led resistance to overlapping supremacist systems; center their leadership.