superhero

noun

su·​per·​he·​ro ˈsü-pər-ˌhir-(ˌ)ō 

-ˌhē-(ˌ)rō

plural superheroes

: a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers

also : an exceptionally skillful or successful person compare superheroine, supervillain

Examples of superhero in a Sentence

The people who do this dangerous work are real-life superheroes who deserve our gratitude.

Recent Examples on the Web

Fans in the green half of Lisbon remember him as a kind of Brylcreemed superhero, Goal Man, an entity whose only currency or indeed language was ball hitting net. —Jack Lang, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026

James Watkins directs what looks to be marketed like more of a body horror film than a superhero movie. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 14 Apr. 2026

Viktor Orbán was a politician—a ruthless, cunning one, unusually capable of bending and breaking the rules of liberal democracy—but not, in the end, an invincible superhero. —Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026

Catcher Brady Murrietta has been like a superhero for Orange Lutheran behind the plate, leading, grinding and delivering. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for superhero

• biro
• spiro
• zero
• nonzero
• subzero

Kids Definition

superhero

noun

su·​per·​he·​ro

ˈsü-per-ˌhē-rō, 

-ˌhi(ə)r-ō

: a fictional hero having extraordinary or superhuman powers

also : a very successful person