superior
Noun pluralsuperiors
Pluralsuperiors
- 1Higher than someone or something else in rank, position, or quality.
Like steps on a ladder: the higher step is above the lower one.
A general is superior to a captain in the army.
This new phone is superior to my old one in almost every way.
UsageSay superior to something: this one is far superior to that one.
Oppositeinferior, junior, subordinate, lower
Note
- 2A person who has a higher position than you or is better than you, especially someone above you at work.
She asked her superior if she could leave early on Friday.
The new soldier always saluted his superiors when they walked past.
UsageOften used with my, his or her: my superior at work.
Similarboss, senior, supervisor, manager
Oppositesubordinate, inferior
Note
- 3
- 4Acting as if you are better than other people.
He gave a superior smile when I got the answer wrong.
Don't act so superior, because everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
UsageOften used with smile, tone or look. It is not a nice thing to say.
Similarsupercilious
Note
- 5The leader of certain religious schools, colleges, and similar groups.
The superior of the religious college welcomed the new students.
The young monk went to his superior for advice.
Similarhead
- 6
- 7Better or greater than what is average or usual.
She has superior hearing and notices sounds most people miss.
The hotel staff gave us superior service during our whole stay.
Similarextraordinary
Less common meanings
- 8Not upset or controlled by something bad, as if you are above it.
The honest judge was superior to bribes and could not be bought.
He was superior to temptation and turned down the easy money.
UsageUsed as superior to with things like fear, pain or temptation.
Similarimmune, impervious
Oppositesusceptible, vulnerable
Note
- 9Of a planet, going around the Sun on a wider path than Earth does.
Like a runner on an outside lane, circling farther out than you.
Mars is a superior planet because it orbits beyond Earth.
Jupiter and Saturn are both superior planets.
Oppositeinferior
Note
- 10Covering more, and including a larger group than another rank does.
Like a big box that holds many smaller boxes inside it.
In biology, a family is a superior group to a genus.
The order is a superior rank that holds several families.
Similarhigher
Oppositelower, subordinate
Note
- 11Of a flower's ovary, sitting above and separate from the other flower parts.
A buttercup has a superior ovary raised above its petals.
The flower's superior ovary stood free above the stamens.
Oppositeinferior
Note
- 12A letter, number, or mark printed small and raised above the normal line.
- 13Printed as a small character raised above the normal line of writing.
- 14Of the ring of leaves around a flower, attached above the part that holds the seeds.
- 15Of a flower in a leaf angle, on the side facing the main stem.
- 16Of a seed's tiny young root, pointing toward the tip of the fruit.
- 17A landowner who granted land to a tenant in return for a yearly payment or services.
Showing meanings only.
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Origin
It comes from Latin superior, meaning "higher" or "upper," which reached English through Old French.
Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 1 fact
- Latin superior means higher or upper. deriv.nls.uk