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

The Wisconsin supreme court ruled that Act 10 was constitutional in 2014. —The Editors, National Review, 25 Feb. 2025

In Texas, the state supreme court recently heard arguments in a similar case. —Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025

State supreme courts have increasingly become a target of special interest groups in recent years, attracting record-breaking spending that reflects the courts' power as the final say in high-profile cases, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, which tracks spending in judicial races. —Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 18 Oct. 2024

As the supreme court has recognized, public school officials have both the authority and obligation to provide a safe learning environment for all students, which is what the school did in this case. —Lauren Green, Fox News, 28 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for supreme court

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• distort
• escort
• exhort
• extort

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.