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

In a statement provided by Amy Cooper, executive assistant to the superintendent and special projects, the district said it is disappointed the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement after more than a year of negotiations. —Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026

If the state superintendent grants the three additional days and districts surpass those, then changes to the school year would be made, such as extending school hours. —Terell Bailey, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026

Adjective

Hicks has been superintendent at the Northeastern Wayne School Corp., about six miles north of Richmond, since 2020. —Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 29 July 2025

Support for Whitfield Whitfield took the superintendent role at Treetops in 2023. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 July 2025

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