inferior

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ɪnˈfɪriɚ/ UK /ɪnˈfɪəriə/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
lower in rank, quality, or value

The cheaper fabric proved inferior after a single wash.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · lower in rank, quality, or... lower lesser subordinatesubstandardmediocresecond-rate

Opposites

superior better higher

Word family

Derived forms inferiorityinferiorly

Related forms infer infernoinfra

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

generally inferior
of lower quality in most cases or respects

Adverb + adjective

Etymology

From Latin inferior ('lower'), comparative of inferus ('low, below'), from a Proto-Indo-European root *ndher- ('under').

inferior Latin inferus Latin *ndher- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# inferior

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ɪnˈfɪriɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪnˈfɪəriə/

## Meanings
1. lower in rank, quality, or value

## Examples
- The cheaper fabric proved inferior after a single wash.

## Synonyms
- lower
- lesser
- subordinate
- substandard
- mediocre
- second-rate

## Antonyms
- superior
- better
- higher

## Derived Forms
- inferiority
- inferiorly

## Related Forms
- infer
- inferno
- infra

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: inferior
- Root: inferus
- Root: *ndher-

## Etymology
From Latin inferior ('lower'), comparative of inferus ('low, below'), from a Proto-Indo-European root *ndher- ('under').

## AI Etymology
Inferior comes from Latin inferior ('lower'), comparative of inferus ('low, below'), from a Proto-Indo-European root *ndher- ('under'). The historical trail runs through Latin inferior, Latin inferus and Proto-Indo-European *ndher-. In modern use it means lower in rank, quality, or value. Derived formations include inferiority, inferiorly; related forms include infer, inferno, infra.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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