superintendent

1 of 2

noun

su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent ˌsü-p(ə-)rin-ˈten-dənt 

ˌsü-pərn-

: one who has executive oversight and charge

superintendent

2 of 2

adjective

: having executive oversight and charge of something : of, relating to, or being a superintendent

superintendent [=supervising] powers

a superintendent officer

The wedding will take place three days after our return to England, by special license, at the office of the district superintendent registrar, in the presence of my solicitor and his clerk, who, like his clients, will be in ordinary walking dress.

—George Bernard Shaw

Synonyms of superintendent

Noun

• manager
• administrator
• executive
• director
• supervisor

Examples of superintendent in a Sentence

Noun

the office of the superintendent of parks issues camping permits

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The board appointed veteran district administrator Andres Chait as acting superintendent. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026

Among the other statewide races, Republicans got locked out of the race for insurance commissioner and got less than a quarter of the vote for state superintendent of public instruction (technically a nonpartisan race). —Sal Rodriguez, Oc Register, 19 June 2026

Adjective

As part of its effort to improve that, the memo said, the board was taking steps to up its superintendent salary to fall more in line with national levels. —Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 16 June 2026

From his assistant superintendent role in District 112, Lubelfeld became superintendent of Pennoyer School District 79 in Norridge for three years in 2010 before District 109 in Deerfield hired him in 2013. —Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Medieval Latin superintendent-, superintendens, from Late Latin, present participle of superintendere

First Known Use

Noun

1554, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1566, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing superintendent

• sidewalk superintendent

Rhymes for superintendent

• interdependent
• appendant
• ascendant
• attendant
• defendant
• dependant
• dependent
• descendant
• descendent
• intendant
• resplendent
• transcendent

Kids Definition

superintendent

noun

su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent ˌsü-p(ə-)rin-ˈten-dənt 

ˌsü-pərn-

: a person who directs, manages, or maintains something

Legal Definition

superintendent

noun

su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent

: one who has the oversight and charge of a place, institution, department, organization, or operation

specifically : the executive head of a police department