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superficial
[ soo-per-fish-uhl ]
adjective
- being at, on, or near the surface:
a superficial wound.
- of or relating to the surface:
superficial measurement.
- external or outward:
a superficial resemblance.
- concerned with or comprehending only what is on the surface or obvious:
a superficial observer.
- shallow; not profound or thorough:
a superficial writer.
- apparent rather than real.
- insubstantial or insignificant:
superficial improvements.
superficial
/ ˌsuːpəˌfɪʃɪˈælɪtɪ; ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl /
adjective
- of, relating to, being near, or forming the surface
superficial bruising
- displaying a lack of thoroughness or care
a superficial inspection
- only outwardly apparent rather than genuine or actual
the similarity was merely superficial
- of little substance or significance; trivial
superficial differences
- lacking originality or profundity
the film's plot was quite superficial
- (of measurements) involving only the surface area
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Derived Forms
- ˌsuperˈficially, adverb
- superficiality, noun
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Other Words From
- su·per·fi·ci·al·i·ty [soo-per-fish-ee-, al, -i-tee], su·per·fi·cial·ness noun
- su·per·fi·cial·ly adverb
- qua·si-su·per·fi·cial adjective
- qua·si-su·per·fi·cial·ly adverb
- sub·su·per·fi·cial adjective
- sub·su·per·fi·cial·ly adverb
- sub·su·per·fi·cial·ness noun
- un·su·per·fi·cial adjective
- un·su·per·fi·cial·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins
Origin of superficial1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of superficial1
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Example Sentences
You might object that the approach creates only superficial mimicry — the way some alchemists claimed to have “made gold” by applying some surface treatment to another metal that induced chemical reactions to gave the metal a golden sheen.
Popular critiques of millennials, in the mid-2000s and beyond, ranged from “They’re too entitled” to “Technology and social media are making them superficial.”
He also suffered a superficial wound to his left thigh and a graze wound to his forehead.
The government could easily make superficial efforts to address public backlash against visible data collection without really touching the core of the Ministry of Public Security’s national operations, says Wang, of Human Rights Watch.
“They have a superficial understanding of the marketplace,” he added.
Her Miss America win transcended mere superficial beauty standards.
But it will take more than superficial solidarity to dismantle those structures and the ideologies that birthed them.
It is loathed by some critics who find it patronizing, silly, and superficial.
The implication is that she might even have assisted her husband inflicting his superficial wounds.
Every Bentley is made to order, which essentially means anything “superficial” is possible.
"It has a superficial, glittering prettiness, without—" I hesitated to find the word I wanted.
This design reveals a stumbling-block that superficial people fall over.
So strong were prejudices in favour of superficial morality in even that licentious age!
A little or superficial knowledge may incline a man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth him back to religion.
In touching truly deep and serious things Mistral is often superficial, and passes them off with a commonplace.
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Related Words
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More About Superficial
What does superficial mean?
Superficial describes something as being of or related to the surface, as a scratch on your arm would be a superficial wound.
Superficial can describe something that is literally close to a surface, such as a small cut, or figuratively close to the surface. When you and your sibling have the same nose shape and same eye color but don’t otherwise look like each other, you superficially look like each other. The sameness doesn’t go very far.
Example: This article is very superficial, barely sharing any details about the event.
Where does superficial come from?
The first records of the term superficial come from around 1375. It ultimately comes from the Latin superfici(ēs), meaning “the outer face,” and –ālis, meaning “of the kind of.”
One of the most common uses of superficial is to describe a wound as close to the surface of the skin. Usually superficial wounds are not threatening, which may have led to other senses, such as meaning “unimportant or trivial.” If you describe someone as superficial, you are implying that they are not thoughtful or profound and are concerned only with what’s on the surface of things.
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What are some other forms related to superficial?
- superficiality (noun)
- superficialness (noun)
- superficially (adverb)
- quasi-superficial (adjective)
What are some synonyms for superficial?
What are some words that share a root or word element with superficial?
What are some words that often get used in discussing superficial?
How is superficial used in real life?
In medical usage, superficial has a specific meaning, but in everyday usage it’s used more generally.
What I'm chasing is Rings and the HOF. The superficial stuff anybody else can have that. I just wanna be a Legend.
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) April 24, 2016
i don't like addressing rumors but the fact that people think i would do something as superficial as a publicity stunt makes me upset
— camila (@Camila_Cabello) May 1, 2014
this superficial love thing got me going crazy
— FASHIONOLOGY 🐉 (@sulivangwed) March 5, 2016
Try using superficial!
Which of the following is NOT a synonym for superficial?
A. shallow
B. frivolous
C. deep
D. casual
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