superior

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled thuperior

US /sʊˈpɪɹ.i.ɚ/ UK /suːˈpɪə.ɹi.ə/ See IPA manual

Freq #3931

Meanings

1

adj
Better than someone or something else in quality.

This phone is far superior to the older model.
2

adj
Higher in rank or position.

She reported the problem to a superior officer.
3

adj
Behaving as if you are better than other people.

He gave a superior smile and walked away.
4

adj
Located higher in position.

The superior part of the image was darker.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · higher in rank or position. higher-rankingranking

More crowningferiorforemost greater higher major paramount preeminent supreme utmost vaulting

Opposites

equivalent inferior

Word family

Forms superiorlysuperiors

Derived forms anterosuperiorlaterosuperiormediosuperiornonsuperiorposterosuperiorsuperioresssuperioritysuperiorizationsuperiorlysuperiormostsuperiornesssuperiorship

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

superior court
a court with authority above that of a lower court

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Superior came through Old French from Latin superior, “that is higher,” derived from super, “above.” Its noun use for a person of higher rank is recorded from the late 15th century.

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French superiour, from Latin superior (“higher, upper”).

superiour Old French superior Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# superior

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /sʊˈpɪɹ.i.ɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /suːˈpɪə.ɹi.ə/
**Frequency rank:** 3931

## Meanings
1. Better than someone or something else in quality.
2. Higher in rank or position.
3. Behaving as if you are better than other people.
4. Located higher in position.

## Examples
- This phone is far superior to the older model.
- She reported the problem to a superior officer.
- He gave a superior smile and walked away.
- The superior part of the image was darker.

## Synonyms
- crowning
- ferior
- foremost
- greater
- higher
- major
- paramount
- preeminent
- supreme
- utmost
- vaulting

## Antonyms
- equivalent
- inferior

## Derived Forms
- anterosuperior
- laterosuperior
- mediosuperior
- nonsuperior
- posterosuperior
- superioress
- superiority
- superiorization
- superiorly
- superiormost
- superiorness
- superiorship

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: superiour
- Root: superior
- Affix: super- - above

## Etymology
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French superiour, from Latin superior (“higher, upper”).

## AI Etymology
Superior is from Middle English, borrowed from Old French superiour, from Latin superior (“higher, upper”). In present-day use, it can mean better than someone or something else in quality, or higher in rank or position. Derived formations include anterosuperior, laterosuperior, mediosuperior, nonsuperior, posterosuperior.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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