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 Throughout his diverse ventures, a common thread is woven – the primacy of customers and partners. Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2024 The guidebook, with 78 unique creative prompts, is our nudge for everyone to explore the primacy of their imagination, artist or not, and to also encourage taking their creativity offline and interacting with the physical world in new and perspective-shifting ways. Jennifer Sodini, Rolling Stone, 11 Mar. 2024 Losing this competition would mean the U.S. losing its national security along with its economic primacy, and even putting democracy in general at risk. Ram Charan, Fortune, 12 Dec. 2023 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

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 28 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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