superintendent

1 of 2

noun

su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent ˌsü-p(ə-)rin-ˈten-dənt How to pronounce superintendent (audio)
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

Examples of superintendent in a Sentence

Noun the office of the superintendent of parks issues camping permits
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Joining the rats, the building is also home to a cockroach infestation, mold, no air conditioning, and elevators and bathrooms that don't function properly, the superintendent added. Emma Colton, Fox News, 13 Mar. 2024 Hibbard will continue to serve as superintendent for the district until Huotari officially begins the role on Aug. 2. Huotari has been working in several capacities within the district for more than 19 years. Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Mar. 2024 Now, Robertson said, the superintendent’s office sends a private van to pick up her nephew. Lauren Lumpkin, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2024 Scott Kleinfeld, the township's assistant superintendent of public works, said Tuesday crews gathered 15 yards of debris from a 2-mile radius. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 During a school meeting at Hargrave High School, Huffman ISD superintendent Benny Soileau instructed faculty to vote for 16 specific politicians who supported certain policies, the release says. Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Mar. 2024 Branch previously ran for superintendent of public instruction against Frank Riggs, a former California U.S. congressman and charter school founder. The Arizona Republic, 2 Mar. 2024 Preston wrote the novel’s frame narrative, which unifies the patchwork of stories via the apartment building’s superintendent, Yessenia Grigorescu. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024 Last year, the Broward School Board tasked its superintendent with a tough mission: Close or repurpose at least five schools in the 2025-26 school year. Ana Claudia Chacin, Miami Herald, 28 Feb. 2024
Adjective
This includes superintendent selection, which must be public, transparent and follow education guidelines. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024 Mijares was appointed superintendent in 2012 and ran uncontested for the superintendent seat in 2014 and 2018. Jon Fleischman, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2024 The firm previously received about 70 applications for any superintendent position but is now seeing about 30 to 35. Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 2 June 2023 The board and education department hired a search firm, Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, to find superintendent candidates. Lilly Price, Baltimore Sun, 16 Jan. 2024 Cato, a longtime CPD supervisor on the West Side, was a finalist for the superintendent job in 2020 and abruptly retired from the department last year. Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2023 Each time, a leader stayed for only a few years before retiring and ceding the superintendent role to the next gubernatorial appointee down the ladder — a revolving door that critics say can limit the internal appetite for innovation within the sprawling yet also insular 2,800-person organization. Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Feb. 2023 Herring served as superintendent from 2017 to 2020 before taking the superintendent position in Atlanta Public Schools. Savannah Tryens-Fernandes | Stryens-Fernandes@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2023 Dean has been superintendent since 2021, and previously worked as a deputy superintendent for the district starting in 2012. Detroit Free Press, 24 Aug. 2023

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of superintendent was in 1554

Dictionary Entries Near superintendent

Cite this Entry

“Superintendent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superintendent. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

superintendent

noun
su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent ˌsü-p(ə-)rin-ˈten-dənt How to pronounce superintendent (audio)
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

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