primacy Definition
pri·macy (prī′mə sē)
noun pl. -·cies
- the state of being first in time, order, rank, etc.
- the rank, office, or authority of a primate
Etymology: ME primacie < MFr < ML primatia < LL primas: see primate
primacy Synonyms
primacy Usage Examples
Converse of object
- reassert: He would hope to reassert the primacy of plant pathology to which many other disciplines contribute.
- assert: This asserted the primacy of public health over IPR.
- affirm: Following Newman's example we must affirm the primacy of the love of God.
- emphasize: Nor does he provide any support for portrayals of empire in this period which seek to emphasize the primacy of economic motivations.
- threaten: We do not agree that direct elections to the second chamber would threaten the primacy of the House of Commons.
- undermine: However, the system works well enough and doesn't undermine the primacy of the local meetings in our Quaker lives.
Preposition: over
law: In those areas where the EU has powers, EU law once agreed does have primacy over national law.
Adjective modifier
- epistemological: This epistemological primacy of knowledge of what we grasp by our senses is the basis for the primacy of the sensible in our language.
- ontological: Moreover, by positing the ontological primacy of potentiality, Cavendish is proposing a model which accommodates more highly differentiated, multi-dimensional thinking.
- universal: The Archbishop was widely reported, both before and during the visit, as appealing for a universal primacy.
Modifies a noun
effect: Primacy effects may lead to the retention of items coming first in a series.
Noun used with modifier
- police: When police primacy became a pivotal political reality, the seeds were sown for active engagement against those violently opposing the state.
- shareholder: This paper suggests that the AOL Time Warner debacle is a warning to those who would propose greater observance of shareholder primacy.
Preposition: of
- honor: In 1417 the Council of Constance also upheld the primacy of honor of the Church in Britain.
- politics: The assumption here is that the primacy of domestic politics will be the norm.
- law: The House of Lords had simply declared what the law has always been since the primacy of European law was established in 1972.
- state: The Labor emphasis has been on the primacy of the state; The Conservative emphasis on the primacy of the market.
- force: Every time a David meets Goliath there's a twist of fate, Some Form in chaos that defeats The primacy of force.
- language: Now the Latvian government is determined to restore the primacy of the Latvian language.
Preposition: for
investigation: The status of the original agency with primacy for the investigation will have to be reviewed by a review manager.
Browse dictionary entries near primacy
- ‹ prima facie evidence
- ‹ prima facie case
- ‹ prima facie
- ‹ prima donna
- ‹ prima ballerina
- ‹ prim
- ‹ prill
- ‹ Prigogine
- ‹ priggishness
- ‹ priggish

