primacy

[ prahy-muh-see ]

/ ˈpraɪ mə si /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR primacy ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural pri·ma·cies for 2, 3.

the state of being first in order, rank, importance, etc.

Also called primateship. English Ecclesiastics. the office, rank, or dignity of a primate.

Roman Catholic Church. the jurisdiction of a bishop, as a patriarch, over other bishoprics, or the supreme jurisdiction of the pope as supreme bishop.

Origin of primacy

1350–1400; Middle English primacie < Medieval Latin prīmātia, alteration of Latin prīmātus ( prīm(us) prime + -ātus -ate³); see -y³

Words nearby primacy

prima facie, prima facie case, prima facie evidence, prima inter pares, prima-facie evidence, primacy, primaeval, primage, primal, primal scene, primal scream

Example sentences from the Web for primacy

And while abolition of the air force is unlikely, the factions that believe in the primacy of boots on the ground are influential.

Why the U.S. Army Is Stuck in the 19th Century |Bill Sweetman |September 2, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
When bourbon went corporate, tradition and quality had begun to play second fiddle to the primacy of profit.

Hillbilly Heaven: The History of Small-Batch Bourbon |Dane Huckelbridge |March 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Now, its descendent organizations are dedicated to advancing the 20th-century throwback notion of the primacy of the nation-state.

Can Ukraine Control Its Far Right Ultranationalists? |Oleg Shynkarenko |March 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
He informs us that, when listening to records, it is the beat he hears first, that it has primacy over the melody or lyrics.

Heavy Mental Drummer: Questlove’s Almost Memoir |John Ortved |June 30, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

Over the past 40 years, technology has slowly eroded the business model and primacy of the NYSE.

NYSE’s Sale to ICE: Sign of the Times |Daniel Gross |December 20, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
During the rule of the next archbishop, Jaenbert, an attempt was made to transfer the primacy from Canterbury.

The Cathedral Church of Canterbury [2nd ed.]. |Hartley Withers
In this respect, beyond any question, primacy must be given the writings of Myers.

Historic Ghosts and Ghost Hunters |H. Addington Bruce
In 624, the third archbishop was carried off by gout, and Justus of Rochester succeeded to the primacy of the struggling church.

Early Britain |Grant Allen
But we are not told the exact date of his deposition from his primacy.

Magic and Witchcraft |Anonymous
Went to M. des Billiers: he attacked me again on the primacy of jurisdiction.

Journal in France in 1845 and 1848 with Letters from Italy in 1847 |T. W. (Thomas William) Allies

British Dictionary definitions for primacy

primacy

/ (ˈpraɪməsɪ) /

noun plural -cies

the state of being first in rank, grade, etc

Christianity the office, rank, or jurisdiction of a primate or senior bishop or (in the Roman Catholic Church) the pope

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

primacy

noun, plural pri·ma·cies for 2, 3.

Origin of primacy

Words nearby primacy

Example sentences from the Web for primacy

British Dictionary definitions for primacy

noun plural -cies

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

primacy

noun, plural pri·ma·cies for 2, 3.

Origin of primacy

Words nearby primacy

Words related to primacy

Example sentences from the Web for primacy

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noun plural -cies

British Dictionary definitions for primacy