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Meaning & use

the primacy

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UK/ðə ˈpraɪməsi/
US/ðə ˈpraɪməsi/

Meanings

  1. phrasesingular

    The state of being the most important or highest-ranking thing among several.

    Grammar: Always used with 'the' and normally followed by 'of' plus a noun: the primacy of the law.

    Patterns

    • the primacy of something
    • give primacy to something
    • assert the primacy of something

    The report argues for the primacy of patient safety over cost savings.

    In this school, the primacy of reading and writing is never questioned.

    Critics say the new rules give primacy to private cars over buses and bikes.

  2. phrasesingular

    The position of being first in order, rank, or time, especially in a competition or hierarchy.

    Grammar: Used with 'the'; often appears with verbs like 'take', 'claim', or 'hold'.

    Patterns

    • take primacy over something
    • hold primacy in something
    • claim primacy

    By the 1990s the company had taken primacy in the mobile phone market.

    Local courts hold primacy in cases that involve state law.

    Her early experiments claimed primacy in the field of genetics.

Common combinations

the primacy of the individual
The constitution stresses the primacy of the individual over the state.
give primacy to
Many parents give primacy to kindness when they raise their children.
assert the primacy of
The new coach quickly asserted the primacy of teamwork.
take primacy over
In an emergency, safety takes primacy over speed.
the primacy of national law
The judges debated the primacy of national law over international agreements.

Synonyms and how they differ

priority
Use 'priority' for something you choose to deal with first; 'primacy' is more formal and suggests an established top rank.
supremacy
'Supremacy' means the greatest power or authority, often in politics; 'primacy' is broader and can simply mean being most important.
precedence
'Precedence' is about coming first in order or ceremony; 'primacy' is about importance or rank.

Opposites

secondary statussubordination

Word family

primary adjective
Main or most important; also means first in a series.
prime adjective
Chief or most important, as in 'the prime minister'.
primate noun
A bishop of the highest rank in some churches; also a kind of mammal.

Commonly confused: the primacy or primacy? the primacy or primarily?

the primacy vs primacy

This is the same word without 'the'. Use 'the primacy' as a fixed phrase, and 'primacy' alone when you add another determiner, e.g. 'its primacy'.

the primacy vs primarily

'Primarily' is an adverb meaning 'mainly'; 'the primacy' is a noun phrase about top importance.

Practice

The new policy gives _____ to environmental protection over economic growth.

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