superstructure

noun

su·​per·​struc·​ture ˈsü-pər-ˌstrək-chər 

1

a

: an entity, concept, or complex based on a more fundamental one

b

: social institutions (such as the law or politics) that are in Marxist theory erected upon the economic base

2

: a structure built as a vertical extension of something else: such as

a

: all of a building above the basement

b

: the structural part of a ship above the main deck

superstructural

ˌsü-pər-ˈstrək-chə-rəl 

-ˈstrək-shrəl

adjective

Examples of superstructure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Featuring exteriors by Redman Whiteley Dixon, the yacht showcases a sleek, clean profile with a near-vertical axe bow and a sweeping, curved superstructure. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 July 2026

The solution was to take existing unarmored commercial cargo ships and tankers, adding a wooden flight deck, small island superstructures, and enough hangar space and support systems to handle up to 30 aircraft. — David Szondy july 21, New Atlas, 22 July 2026

The bridge superstructure is missing entirely, although the aluminum bridge is still attached. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 10 July 2026

One is to look for hypothetical superstructures called Dyson spheres, which were a familiar concept to Kardashev as they had been imagined by American physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 10 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for superstructure

• infrastructure
• macrostructure
• microstructure
• nanostructure
• ultrastructure
• restructure
• substructure
• structure