primacy

noun

pri·​ma·​cy ˈprī-mə-sē How to pronounce primacy (audio)
1
: the state of being first (as in importance, order, or rank) : preeminence
the primacy of intellectual and esthetic over materialistic valuesT. R. McConnell
2
: 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 Like Chantal Mouffe, a theorist of leftist populism and a friend of Mélenchon’s, Mélenchon believes that voters have become demoralized by a technocratic neoliberal consensus: the primacy of markets and social values that favor individualism over the collective good. Elisabeth Zerofsky, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Shareholder primacy must end up in history’s dustbin. Peter Georgescu, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Because if more shareholders see things that way, shareholder primacy is indeed a great vehicle to promote sustainability and social impact practices at companies. Peter Vanham, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 But shareholder primacy is nothing more sinister than the requirement that a company’s management is supposed to act in the interests of those that hold the company’s shares. Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 7 Jan. 2024 In a typical European model, a policy approach might well involve the introduction of ‘civics’ courses in schools on the importance of diet, use of social media, primacy of democracy as well as greater sanctions on disinformation. Mike O'Sullivan, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024 But some scholars have questioned the primacy of technology in such military outcomes. Shashank Joshi, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 That’s Xi-speak for denying the existence of the universal rights and values that undergird the global primacy of democracy. Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 20 Dec. 2023 One of Tusk’s priority objectives: to unblock billions in grants and loans that were withheld while Poland challenged the primacy of E.U. laws and allowed politics to influence the selection and disciplining of judges. Kate Brady, Washington Post, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'primacy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English primacie, borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Medieval Latin prīmātia "office of a primate," from prīmāt-, prīmās "leading bishop in an ecclesiastical province, primate" + Latin -ia -y entry 2

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of primacy was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near primacy

Cite this Entry

“Primacy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primacy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

primacy

noun
pri·​ma·​cy ˈprī-mə-sē How to pronounce primacy (audio)
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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