supremacist: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal; predominantly used in political, sociological, and historical discourse. Highly negative and critical in connotation.
Quick answer
What does “supremacist” mean?
A person who believes that a particular group, especially one determined by race, sex, religion, etc.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who believes that a particular group, especially one determined by race, sex, religion, etc., is superior to all others and should therefore dominate society.
Also used to describe the ideology, policies, or practices based on this belief. Can be applied more broadly to doctrines asserting the absolute supremacy of a particular category (e.g., 'white supremacist,' 'male supremacist').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition or usage. Spelling remains identical.
Connotations
Equally negative and critical in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English media due to prominent discourse on race and white supremacy, but the term is standard in political vocabulary in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “supremacist” in a Sentence
[Adj.] + supremacistsupremacist + [Noun (group/ideology)]be/label as/condemn as a supremacistVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “supremacist” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Supremacise' is not a standard verb.
American English
- 'Supremacize' is not a standard verb.
adverb
British English
- 'Supremacistically' is not a standard adverb.
American English
- 'Supremacistically' is not a standard adverb.
adjective
British English
- The document outlined the party's supremacist agenda.
- He was influenced by supremacist literature.
American English
- The group was identified as a supremacist organization.
- She denounced the supremacist rhetoric.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare. Might appear in discussions of corporate ethics or diversity training.
Academic
Common in sociology, political science, history, and critical theory to analyze ideologies of dominance.
Everyday
Used in news and political discussions, but not in casual conversation. A heavy, charged term.
Technical
Used as a specific classificatory term in political and social analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “supremacist”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “supremacist”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “supremacist”
- Using it as a neutral term (it is always pejorative).
- Confusing it with 'superior' (which is an adjective).
- Mispronouncing it as /ˈsuːprəməsɪst/ (stress is on 'prem').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is almost exclusively used as a critical, pejorative label in modern discourse.
It is the most frequent, but 'male supremacist' and other group-specific terms (e.g., 'religious supremacist') are also used.
While all white supremacists are racist, not all racists are supremacists. Supremacism implies an organised ideology seeking political and social dominance, not just prejudice or discrimination.
No, there is no standard verb derived from 'supremacist'. You would use phrases like 'advocate supremacy' or 'hold supremacist views'.
A person who believes that a particular group, especially one determined by race, sex, religion, etc.
Supremacist is usually formal; predominantly used in political, sociological, and historical discourse. highly negative and critical in connotation. in register.
Supremacist: in British English it is pronounced /suːˈprɛməsɪst/, and in American English it is pronounced /sʊˈprɛməsɪst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. The word itself functions as a fixed label.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SUPERior + fanatic + -ist. A 'supremacist' is someone who is a fanatic about their group being SUPERior.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A HIERARCHY (where one group must be at the absolute top).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most accurate definition of 'supremacist'?