Words / B2

soo-PEERR-ee-uh/suːˈpɪəriə/

Superior means better in quality or higher in rank; as a noun, a person of higher rank: a superior graph; report to your superior. Better is everyday; excellent is absolute. A superior graph still needs a sample size. Opposite: inferior. Mix-up: supervisor is someone who watches work (next entries); super is informal. Do not write superior for “supervisor” as a job title unless rank is meant.

Meaning

Better in quality; also higher in rank; (noun) a person of higher rank.

Examples

• “A superior graph still needs a sample size in the caption.”
• “She reported the fault to her superior, which is the rank sense.”

Good to know

superior to; a superior + noun. Opposite: inferior. Trap: supervisor / super. Evaluations and workplaces. Better or higher-ranking, not the watching-job word.

Near in meaning

better

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