primacy

 
Pronunciation: /ˈprʌɪməsi/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the fact of being pre-eminent or most important: London’s primacy as a financial centre
  • 2the office, period of office, or authority of a primate of the Church: the first years of his primacy were tranquil
  • 3 [usually as modifier] Psychology the fact of an item having been presented earlier to the subject (especially as increasing its likelihood of being remembered): the primacy effect is thought to reflect recall from a long-term memory store

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French primatie, from medieval Latin primatia, from Latin primas, primat- 'of the first rank' (see primate1)