Superhuman

/ˌsuːpərˈhjuːmən/

adjectivemedium📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

Possessing or exhibiting abilities or qualities beyond those of an ordinary human.

/ˌsuːpərˈhjuːmən/

adjectivepositivemedium
General

Exceeding human power, ability, or size.

The firefighters showed superhuman courage in rescuing people from the burning building.

💡 Simply: Imagine someone who can do things that seem impossible, like lifting a car or running faster than anyone else. That's superhuman! It's like being extra, super, or ultra good at something.

👶 For kids: Someone or something that is stronger, faster, or better than a normal person.

More Examples

2

The athlete's recovery from the injury was almost superhuman.

3

She performed superhuman feats of engineering to complete the project on time.

How It's Used

Science Fiction

"The hero possessed superhuman strength and agility."

Everyday Speech

"She showed superhuman determination to finish the marathon."

Literature

"The athlete's performance seemed almost superhuman."

2

A being, typically fictional, possessing powers and capabilities beyond those of human beings.

/ˌsuːpərˈhjuːmən/

nounneutralmedium
Literature

A being with abilities exceeding normal human capabilities.

The novel explored the challenges faced by a society where superhumans were integrated.

💡 Simply: It's someone or something that's not a normal human, like a superhero from a comic book or a movie!

👶 For kids: A person who has super powers or abilities that are better than a regular person.

More Examples

2

The artist drew inspiration from tales of mythological superhumans.

How It's Used

Science Fiction

"The story featured a team of superhumans with diverse powers."

Tip:Think of a character from a comic book or a superhero.

Idioms & expressions

superhuman effort

An immense effort, requiring extraordinary strength or determination.

"It took a superhuman effort for him to finish the project on time."

From Latin *super* ("above, beyond") and *humanus* ("human"), reflecting the concept of exceeding human capabilities. The term gained popularity in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially in science fiction and comic books.

The concept of superhuman abilities has existed in myth and legend for centuries, but the specific term gained wider use with the rise of science fiction and comic books in the 20th century.

Memory tip

Think of Superman – a being with power beyond any ordinary person.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"Combining "above" or "beyond" with "human" to describe capabilities exceeding human limits."

superhuman strengthsuperhuman effortsuperhuman powersuperhuman endurancesuperhuman ability

Common misspellings

super-humansuper humain

Usage

30%Spoken
70%Written