superior

noun

1

: one who is above another in rank, station, or office

especially : the head of a religious house or order

2

: one that surpasses another in quality or merit

3

: superscript

Synonyms of superior

• boss
• leader
• master
• elder
• better

Examples of superior in a Sentence

His superior gave him an excellent evaluation.

You should report any problems to your immediate superior.

Recent Examples on the Web

With the North Koreans and the Chinese military bearing down on Incheon in 1951, Casillas was ordered by his superiors to destroy all vital structures in Incheon to keep the infrastructure from falling into enemy hands. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2026

Abts sent an email to his superiors, and a human resources supervisor, about Husband’s disturbing, uncharacteristic behavior. —Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 June 2026

Investigations, reviews and outside probes In the midst of the overpayment debate, the unemployment insurance division devolved into a series of investigations, reviews of those investigations and spiraling distrust between staff and superiors, labor department documents obtained by The Post show. —Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 31 May 2026

Where Krick is busy grandstanding, the darling of his men and superiors, the ever unpopular Stagg urges caution. —Daniel Jonah Wolpert, NPR, 29 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing superior

• highly superior autobiographical memory
• superior conjunction
• superior court
• superior general
• superior planet
• superior vena cava

Rhymes for superior

• anterior
• exterior
• inferior
• interior
• ulterior

Kids Definition

superior

1 of 2 adjective

su·​pe·​ri·​or su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər 

1

: situated higher up : upper

2

: of higher rank, quality, or importance

3

: courageously or calmly indifferent (as to something painful)

4

a

: greater in quantity or numbers

escaped by superior speed

b

: excellent of its kind : better

a superior memory

5

: covering or including more things

a genus is superior to a species

6

: feeling that one is better or more important than others

superiorly adverb

superior

2 of 2 noun

1

: one who is above another in rank, station, or office

especially : the head of a religious house or order

2

: one that goes beyond another in quality or merit

Medical Definition

superior

adjective

su·​pe·​ri·​or su̇-ˈpir-ē-ər 

1

: situated toward the head and further away from the feet than another and especially another similar part of an upright body especially of a human being

the superior medial edge of the patient's right scapula

—J. M. Lewis

compare inferior sense 1

2

: situated in a more anterior or dorsal position in the body of a quadruped compare inferior sense 2

Legal Definition

superior

adjective

su·​pe·​ri·​or

: of higher status, rank, or priority