primacies

Primacies refers to the plural of primacy, a noun meaning the condition of being first in rank, importance, time, or priority. The term is used across disciplines to describe instances in which priority or precedence is asserted or recognized. Etymologically, primacy derives from Latin primus, meaning first, with the suffix -acy denoting a state or quality.

In theology and religious studies, primacy often denotes supreme authority or jurisdiction. The primacy of the Pope is a central concept in Roman Catholic doctrine, asserting the pope's universal jurisdiction over the Church. In other Christian traditions, competing views of primacy reflect debates about governance and the balance of authority.

In political theory and international relations, primacy is used to describe the dominance of a state within a system or the precedence of national law over international norms in certain contexts.

In cognitive psychology, primacy can refer to the primacy effect, where items presented early in a sequence are remembered better than later items. When discussing multiple such instances, writers may use primacies to denote several domains of priority.