world power

American  

noun

1. a nation, organization, or institution so powerful that it is capable of influencing or changing the course of world events.

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world power British  

noun

1. a state that possesses sufficient power to influence events throughout the world

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Etymology

Origin of world power

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

He might be correct that world powers are flouting international law and somebody ought to stop them.

From The Wall Street Journal

And he’s trying to map out a managed coexistence between the two world powers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Major world powers know this technology will deliver a strategic advantage for the rest of the century.

From The Wall Street Journal

Since the days of ancient Persia, successive world powers including the Greeks, Ottomans and Portuguese sought to control the strait.

From The Wall Street Journal

For a moment then, too, it had seemed that world powers might finally intervene to stop the endless suffering.

From BBC

Related Words

• superpower