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... lowerlessersubordinatesubstandardmediocresecond-rate ↔ Opposites superiorbetterhigher Word family Derived forms inferiorityinferiorly Related forms inferinfernoinfra Common collocations generally inferior Adverb + adjective Etymology AI details 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 Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # 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 markdown