preeminence

/priˈɛmənəns/

Other forms: preeminences

Preeminence is the quality of being superior. It’s a type of high status or distinction for anything considered to be the best at something, like the preeminence of gold or the preeminence of a famous musician.

Preeminence (or pre-eminence if you love hyphens) comes from the Latin word praeeminere for to “rise above or excel.” People with preeminence include the President, billionaires, and great athletes such as Michael Jordan. By definition, preeiminence suggests superiority, so it can't be a quality lots of people have. A world-famous surgeon is a doctor with preeminence. Anyone considered wealthy, powerful, important, or famous has preeminence.

Definitions of preeminence

1. noun

   high status importance owing to marked superiority
   synonyms: distinction, eminence, note

   types:

   king

   preeminence in a particular category or group or field

   type of:

   high status

   a position of superior status