Superior
/suːˈpɪəriər/
Definitions
2 meaningsHigher in rank, status, or quality.
/suːˈpɪəriər/
Being above in position or status.
The superior quality of the materials made the furniture last longer.
💡 Simply: Imagine a really, really good ice cream. If it's better than all the other ice creams, you could say it's superior! It's top-notch, the best.
👶 For kids: Being better than others.
More Examples
She felt superior after winning the competition.
A superior officer gave the order.
His intelligence was superior to most others in his class.
How It's Used
"The company's superior product line led to increased sales."
"The general had superior command of the battlefield."
A person or thing above another in rank, status, or importance.
/suːˈpɪəriər/
A person or thing that is above another in rank or status.
He reported the incident to his superior.
💡 Simply: Imagine your boss at work. That person is your 'superior'. They have a higher position than you.
👶 For kids: Someone who is in charge of you.
More Examples
The company's superiors made the final decision.
The superior of the convent was a kind woman.
She was told to follow the instructions of her superior.
How It's Used
"Report the issue to your superior."
"The superior of the monastery gave his blessing."
Synonyms
Better
Elite
Greater
Higher
Boss
Chief
Leader
Manager
Idioms & expressions
feel superior to
To believe that one is better than someone else.
"She always felt superior to her classmates because she got better grades."
From Latin *superior*, comparative of *superus* ('above').
Used since the 14th century, originally with religious connotations, referring to a person of higher religious rank.
Memory tip
Think of a 'super' individual or object; they're above the others.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: super-