First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1superior
adjective su·pe·ri·or \su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər\
: of high quality : high or higher in quality
: great or greater in amount, number, or degree
: better than other people
Full Definition of SUPERIOR
1
: situated higher up : upper
2
: of higher rank, quality, or importance
3
: courageously or serenely indifferent (as to something painful or disheartening)
4
a : greater in quantity or numbers <escaped by superior speed> b : excellent of its kind : better <her superior memory>
5
: being a superscript
6
a of an animal structure : situated above or anterior or dorsal to another and especially a corresponding part <a superior artery> b of a plant structure : situated above or near the top of another part: as (1) of a calyx : attached to and apparently arising from the ovary (2) of an ovary : free from the calyx or other floral envelope
7
: more comprehensive <a genus is superior to a species>
See superior defined for English-language learners
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Origin of SUPERIOR
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin, comparative of superus upper, from super over, above — more at over
Related to SUPERIOR
- Synonyms
- assumptive, bumptious, cavalier, chesty, haughty, highfalutin (also hifalutin), high-and-mighty, high-handed, high-hat, huffish, huffy, imperious, important, lofty, lordly, masterful, overweening, peremptory, pompous, presuming, presumptuous, pretentious, self-asserting, self-assertive, sniffy, stiff-necked, supercilious, arrogant, toplofty (also toploftical), uppish, uppity
- Antonyms
- humble, lowly, modest, unarrogant, unpretentious
2superior
noun
: a person of higher rank or status than another
Full Definition of SUPERIOR
1
: one who is above another in rank, station, or office; especially : the head of a religious house or order
2
: one that surpasses another in quality or merit
3
See superior defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SUPERIOR
15th century
Superior
geographical name Su·pe·ri·or \su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər\
Definition of SUPERIOR
city & port NW Wisconsin on Lake Superior pop 27,244
SUPERIOR Defined for Kids
1superior
adjective su·pe·ri·or \su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər\
Definition of SUPERIOR for Kids
1
: situated higher up : higher in rank, importance, numbers, or quality
2
: excellent of its kind : better <a superior athlete>
3
: showing the feeling of being better or more important than others : arrogant <a superior smirk>
2superior
noun
Definition of SUPERIOR for Kids
1
: a person who is higher than another in rank, importance, or quality
2
: the head of a religious house or order
Medical Dictionary
superior
adjective su·pe·ri·or \su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər\
Medical Definition of SUPERIOR
1
: situated toward the head and further away from the feet than another and especially another similar part of an upright body especially of a human being <the superior medial edge of the patient's right scapula—J. M. Lewis>—compare inferior 1
2
: situated in a more anterior or dorsal position in the body of a quadruped—compare inferior 2
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