supreme court

noun

often capitalized S&C

1

: the highest judicial tribunal in a political unit (such as a nation or state)

2

: a court of original jurisdiction in New York state subordinate to a final court of appeals

Examples of supreme court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Watch on Deadline The newspaper adds that the supreme court remains dissatisfied with the documentation over the appointment of de Oliveira Conceicao in the role, but has given X five days to rectify the papers. —Caroline Frost, Deadline, 22 Sep. 2024

That's how much additional money the United States Marshals Service asked for in its Fiscal Year 2025 budget request to pay for two new programs meant to beef up security for federal judges and justices on the supreme court. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024

And the supreme court had great courage in doing it. —Maya Marchel Hoff, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2024

Donnelly, 58, is running for a second six-year term on the supreme court. —Laura A. Bischoff, The Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

supreme court

noun

: the highest court in a political unit (as the U.S. or one of its states)

Legal Definition

supreme court

noun

su·​preme court

1

: the highest court in a nation or state

specifically, capitalized S&C : the highest court in the judicial branch of the U.S. government that has original jurisdiction over controversies involving ambassadors or other ministers or consuls but whose main activity is as the court of last resort exercising appellate jurisdiction over cases involving federal law

2

capitalized S&C : a court of original jurisdiction in New York

Note: The court of last resort in New York is the Court of Appeals.