supremacist
|su-pre-ma-cist|
/suːˈprɛməsɪst/
belief in superiority
Etymology
'supremacist' is formed in English from the noun 'supremacy' plus the agent suffix '-ist'. 'Supremacy' ultimately comes from Latin 'supremus', where 'suprem-' meant 'highest'.
'supremacist' developed in modern English by adding the suffix '-ist' (agent) to 'supremacy' (English), which came via Old French/Medieval Latin from Latin 'supremus'; over time the -ist formation produced the noun meaning 'one who advocates supremacy'.
Originally derived from a root meaning 'highest' (supremus), the term evolved to denote the idea of 'dominance or superiority' and specifically a person who advocates or supports that dominance.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who believes that a particular group (often defined by race, ethnicity, or nationality) is superior to others and should dominate them; commonly used of advocates of racial supremacy (e.g., 'white supremacist').
The suspect was identified as a supremacist by investigators.
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Adjective 1
relating to or supporting the belief that a particular group is superior and should dominate others (e.g., 'supremacist ideology').
The manifesto contained several supremacist arguments.
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Last updated: 2025/11/30 00:37