super

noun

1

[by shortening]

a

: supernumerary

especially : a supernumerary actor

b

: superintendent, supervisor

especially : the superintendent of an apartment building

2

[short for obsolete superhive] : a removable upper story of a beehive

3

[super entry 1] : a superfine grade or extra large size

4

[origin unknown] : a thin loosely woven open-meshed starched cotton fabric used especially for reinforcing books

Examples of super in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Ritz-Carlton guests will also finally have access to hop aboard the incredible, spaceship-like Adastra super-yacht, currently available only for neighboring Patina Maldives guests. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026

Musk proposes powering these super-armadas of satellites with solar panels. —Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

This will be the ultimate test of which side’s super-strength is better. —Liam Tharme, New York Times, 31 May 2026

After Magyar’s party Tisza won a super-majority in parliament, which enabled deep and quick reforms, leaders in Brussels and Budapest prioritized releasing the funds as soon as possible to help Hungary’s economy, which has stagnated for years. —Justin Spike, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing super

• super-conservative
• super-duper
• super G
• super glue
• super-minister
• super-person
• super-romantic
• super-spreader
• super-spreading

Rhymes for super

• grouper
• hooper
• keuper
• looper
• stupor
• trooper
• paratrooper

Kids Definition

super

1 of 4 adjective

su·​per ˈsü-pər 

1

—used as an overall term of approval

a super cook

2

: very large or powerful

a super atomic bomb

3

: showing the characteristics of its type to an extreme degree

super secrecy

super

2 of 4 noun

1

: an actor not listed with the regular cast

2

: superintendent, supervisor

super

3 of 4 adverb

1

: very entry 2 sense 1, extremely

a super fast car

2

: to a degree exceeding the usual or normal

super critical

super-

4 of 4 prefix

1

a

: over and above : higher in quantity, quality, or degree than : more than

superfine

superhuman

b

: exceeding or so as to exceed what is usual or normal

supercool

c

: bigger, better, or more important than others of the same kind

superhighway

superstar

2

a

: situated or placed above, on, or at the top of

superimpose

b

: next above or higher

supertonic

Etymology

derived from Latin super "over, above"