superhero

noun

su·​per·​he·​ro ˈsü-pər-ˌhir-(ˌ)ō How to pronounce superhero (audio)
-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 The sequences are effectively and creatively realized, usually maintaining the kind of visual logic that has become less tangible in big-budget American superhero fare. Kayti Burt, Rolling Stone, 22 Sep. 2023 But the superhero flick only reached No. 11 on his top-grossing films list, according to Comscore. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023 McGregor and the penciller Billy Graham fashioned a warrior-king who could be a superhero outside Wakanda, but had to learn to be a decisive ruler and a romantic leading man at home. Stephanie Burt, The New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2023 Almost a decade before the dawn of Hollywood’s modern comic-book era, Cain and Hatcher set a standard for superhero power couples that has yet to be topped. David Betancourt, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023 This song nearly doubles as a game of superhero freeze dance. Jessica Gentile, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2023 The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were introduced as four turtles who had mysterious chemical ooze spilled on them after a car accident, a parody of the Marvel superhero Daredevil’s origin story. David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2023 From Chris Evans and Scarlett Johansson to Zoe Saldaña, see who the 'Avengers' stars go home to after saving the world Being a full-time superhero is not super easy. Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 11 Sep. 2023 From Christian Bale and Keanu Reeves to Robert Pattinson and George Clooney, many actors have taken on the role of the iconic movie superhero and succeeded (or failed). Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'superhero.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of superhero was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near superhero

Cite this Entry

“Superhero.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superhero. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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