superintendent

soo-pur-in-TEN-duhnt/ˌsjuːpəɹɪnˈtɛndənt/UKsoo-puh-rin-TEN-dunt/ˌsuːpəɹɪnˈtɛndənt/

7 meanings of superintendent

1
nouncountable
Someone who is in charge of running a place, group, or activity.
Like the person in charge who makes sure everyone is doing their job.
The superintendent makes sure the whole school district runs smoothly.
They named her superintendent of the new construction project.
Similarsupervisor, overseer, manager, director, administrator
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2
nouncountable
The person who manages an apartment building, keeping things working and sometimes collecting rent.
Like someone who looks after a whole building so everyone living there is comfortable.
Our superintendent fixed the broken heater the same day.
She called the superintendent about the leak in her ceiling.
Similarmanager, caretaker
Note
3
nounCommonwealthcountable
A senior police officer in Commonwealth countries, ranking just above a chief inspector.
Like a high-ranking officer who is in charge of a large police area.
The superintendent led the investigation into the robbery.
She was promoted to superintendent after twenty years on the force.
Note
4
nounUScountable
A person who cleans and takes care of a building, such as a school.
Like the person who keeps a school clean and fixes small problems.
The superintendent mopped the hallway after the students left.
The superintendent unlocked the gym early every morning.
Similarjanitor, custodian, caretaker
Note
5
nouncountable
In some Protestant churches, a senior minister who oversees the other ministers in an area.
Like someone who is in charge of a group of other workers.
The superintendent visited each church in the district every year.
She was appointed superintendent over the region's ministers.
Note
6
nouncountable
The person in charge of a Sunday school.
Like the person who runs a club and decides what everyone will do.
The superintendent organized the Sunday school's Christmas play.
Every teacher met with the superintendent before classes began.
7
adjective
In charge of watching over and directing something.
The new law gave the agency a superintendent power over local banks.
A superintendent body now reviews all the city's building plans.
Similarsupervisory, managerial
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from the Church Latin word 'superintendens', which was made to match the Greek word 'epískopos'. This makes it distantly related to the English word 'bishop'.