supervisor

noun

su·​per·​vi·​sor ˈsü-pər-ˌvī-zər 

: one that supervises

especially : an administrative officer in charge of a business, government, or school unit or operation

supervisory

ˌsü-pər-ˈvī-zə-rē 

-ˈvīz-rē

adjective

Synonyms

• administrant
• administrator
• archon
• director
• exec
• executive
• manager
• superintendent

Examples of supervisor in a Sentence

The supervisor fired him after he showed up at work drunk.

If you have a problem, go to your supervisor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Since 1926, voters have rejected the idea of adding more supervisors eight times. —Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2024

Multiple supervisors told The News that means they’re expected to watch a crew’s work from start to finish. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 13 July 2024

Under state law, the first day supervisors of elections offices could send the initial batch of mail ballots was July 11. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2024

At the Houston Zoo, the preference is often water misters, Denny Charlton, the zoo's supervisor of carnivores, told ABC News. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 12 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from supervidēre

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

supervisor

noun

su·​per·​vi·​sor ˈsü-pər-ˌvī-zər 

: a person who supervises

especially : an officer in charge of a unit or an operation of a business, government, or school

supervisory

ˌsü-pər-ˈvīz-(ə-)rē 

adjective

Legal Definition

supervisor

noun

su·​per·​vi·​sor ˈsü-pər-ˌvī-zər 

: one that directs or oversees a person, group, department, organization, or operation

specifically : the popularly elected chief administrative official of a township or other subdivision in some states of the U.S.

supervisorial

ˌsü-pər-ˌvī-ˈzōr-ē-əl

adjective

supervisory

ˌsü-pər-ˈvī-zə-rē 

adjective