Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

superhero

American  
[soo-per-heer-oh] / ˈsu pərˌhɪər oʊ /

noun

plural

superheroes

  1. a morally righteous hero in a fictional work who possesses extraordinary abilities or supernatural powers and uses them to fight evil, as in comic books and movies.

    Many classic superheroes wear masks to maintain their secret identities.
superhero British  
/ ˈsuːpəˌhɪərəʊ /

noun

  1. any of various comic-strip characters with superhuman abilities or magical powers, wearing a distinctive costume, and fighting against evil

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of superhero

First recorded in 1895–1900; from French super-héros

Explanation

A fictional character with extraordinary powers who saves people from danger is a superhero. In real life, anyone who comes to the rescue can also be called a superhero. You know a superhero when you see one: in the movies or comics, they wear costumes and fight crime. Wonder Woman, Superman, Black Panther, and Iron Man are all familiar superheroes who use their superhuman abilities in amazing ways. Ordinary people who do amazing things — saving a child from drowning, running into a burning building for a pet cat, raising huge amounts of money for a good cause — are also superheroes.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing superhero

Hands

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Comic Book Day

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

A Boy Called Bat

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“It was a superhero performance,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026

The couple met in 2017 during the making of Spider-Man: Homecoming; and will be reunited on screen in their fourth superhero film, Spider-Man : Brand New Day, this summer.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

New York’s new superhero: The woman who makes trash disappear.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 11, 2026

Mr. Kimmel also hints at the wish fulfillment at the heart of the Jewish-penned superhero tales: As he observes, within their pages, “nerdy outsiders end up exhibiting enviable superpowers.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

I’ll get to see all the adorable little kids in their dragon, princess, and superhero outfits.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.