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superior

superior

130 4.9
A person who has higher rank or authority in a group
  • noun
  • /suːˈpɪrɪər/
: superior
  • Employees are expected to report any problems to their superior in a timely manner.
  • superiors and subordinates
  • superiors and inferiors
  • inform superiors

It's down to him and his superiors when they close the case.

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Examples

  • I told my direct superior, who suggested we get ourselves a good lawyer.

  • What made you the type of employee that your superiors would feel safe giving you?

  • So then she came to her superior and said, I think that this is my calling.

  • It's the reason why they are called your boss, your superior, because they already have more life experience.

  • Back at Inland Revenue, he tells his superior, "Everything seems to be in order."

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Your superiors want to see you the moment you land.

  • Did you report Private Bell to your superiors?

  • My superiors are flying in from D.C. day after tomorrow.

  • The employee must inform his superior of this belief in an adequate and reasonable manner.

    Academic text (1990)
  • We might also think in terms of superiors and subordinates within an organization.

Synonyms

chief
vssuperior
∞ 1.9

A person who leads a group or community

is about being higher in rank but not necessarily the top leader
master
vssuperior
∞ 3.7

A person in charge of a group or place

is focused on rank or office rather than direct control
Excellency
vssuperior
  • Formal
61 8.9

A title used when speaking to or about ambassadors, governors and similar officials

names a person of higher rank rather than serving as a formal title
religious leader
vssuperior
48 3.4

A person who guides a group's religious beliefs and practices

covers higher rank in any organization including but not limited to religion
high-up
vssuperior
43 7.1

A person with an important job in an organization

is about formal higher rank or authority rather than influence alone
eminence
vssuperior
  • Formal
32 7.4

A very respected person in a field who is often an expert

emphasizes formal rank within an organization rather than public distinction
top dog
vssuperior
  • Informal
26 4.6

A person with the most power in a group

is a neutral term for someone of higher rank without informal tone
higher-up
vssuperior
  • Informal
20 4.2

A person with more power in a company or group

is the general idea of someone of higher rank or authority
mother superior
vssuperior
10 7.8

A woman who is in charge of a group of nuns in a convent

is a broader term for higher rank, not limited to female religious roles
dean
vssuperior
6 4.3

A very senior and respected person in a group or profession

is about official higher rank rather than respect or seniority alone
magister
vssuperior
  • Literature
5 9.9

A top official who commands or manages in ancient institutions

is the modern generic idea of a person with higher rank
supremo
vssuperior
2 8.4

A person who is the most important leader in a group or organization

refers to someone of higher rank but not always the absolute head
better
vssuperior
1 7.5

People of higher social rank or authority

focuses on official rank or authority rather than social class or quality
hierarch
vssuperior
1 9.9

A person who has a high position in a church or other group

is the general case of higher rank, not only formal hierarchical posts
superior general
vssuperior
  • Formal
1 9.6

The head of a religious group who leads the whole community

covers any person of higher rank, not only order heads
superordinate
vssuperior
  • Formal
9.1

A person who has higher rank in a group or organization

means a person of higher rank in real organizations rather than abstract classes

Antonyms

18 4.8

Lower in rank or importance and under someone's control

inferior
  • Offensive
5 5.9

A person who has lower rank or status than others

Compounds

superior court
  • Specialized
39 5.3

A court that hears appeals and serious trials

A woman who is in charge of a group of nuns in a convent

The largest freshwater lake in the world on the border of the United States and Canada

A very high level of ability better than most people have

1 7.0

A large blood vessel from the aorta that sends blood to the small intestine and part of the colon

superior vena cava
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A large vein that carries blood with little oxygen from the upper body to the right side of the heart

1 9.6

The head of a religious group who leads the whole community

superior vocal cord
  • Specialized
1 8.9

An upper fold of tissue in the throat that does not make sound

superior conjunction
  • Specialized
1 9.9

When a planet is on the far side of the Sun from Earth so we cannot see it

superior colliculus
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A part of the brain that helps process what you see and control quick eye movements

superior planet
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A planet that orbits the Sun outside Earth's orbit, like Mars or Jupiter

1 9.6

A thin muscle in the upper back that lifts the top ribs

9.9

An artery that gives blood to the upper teeth and nearby gums

9.6

A blood vessel that brings blood to the upper lip

rectus superior
  • Specialized
7.8

A muscle that moves the eye upward and inward

6.8

A vein that drains blood from the upper front of the belly and runs beside its artery

6.2

A vein in the top of a lung that carries oxygen-rich blood to the left upper part of the heart

superior rectus
  • Specialized
7.2

A muscle in the eye that turns the eyeball up and toward the nose

6.5

A muscle in the eye that moves the eyeball upward and inward

A long vein in the deep part of the brain that drains blood

6.0

A blood vessel that carries blood to the upper lip

superior labial vein
  • Specialized
6.3

A blood vessel that carries blood from the upper lip

9.1

A vein that carries blood from the inner corner of the eye into a deep vein behind the eye

superior thyroid vein
  • Specialized
5.5

A neck vein that carries blood from the top of the thyroid gland into a large neck vein

6.8

A blood vessel that carries blood to the upper part of the cerebellum and nearby midbrain

7.1

A brain vein that drains blood from the top half of the brain

6.5

A blood vessel that brings blood to the upper teeth

9.3

A vein that carries blood away from the upper lip

9.6

A vein that carries blood from the upper part of each lung to the left upper chamber of the heart

How Senior

chief
∞ 1.9
superior
130 4.9
supervisor
332 2.8
junior
131 2.4
member
279 1.0

Surface Forms

superior singular
superiors plural

Morphology

superior = super (transparent) = super + ior

The meaning 'person of higher rank or authority' is a straightforward extension of 'super' (above/higher) with the comparative/formative '-ior'.

Etymology

Superior comes from the Latin super 'above', so a superior is literally someone 'above' you in rank or authority. This is why employees speak of asking their superior for instructions or help.