inferiority

[in-feer-ee-awr-i-tee, -or-]

noun

1. the quality or state of being lesser or lower in rank, position, quality, etc..

   Negative perceptions about the inferiority of generic drugs compared to brand name drugs were more pronounced among some segments of the studied population.

2. the quality or state of feeling less important, valuable, or worthy.

   The youth center was founded on the belief that youth violence is a product of various social and economic factors that contribute to feelings of inferiority, powerlessness, and hopelessness.

Word History and Origins

Origin of inferiority¹

First recorded in 1580–90; inferior ( def. ) + -ity ( def. )

Example Sentences

"There was no inferiority complex from Grimsby, far from it. If anything it was the other way around."

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And they remember a time in which the city’s messy urban forms and perceived cultural inferiority provided endless creative fuel, and liberation.

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He blames a lack of self confidence, telling the BBC: "The current ANC has a big inferiority complex and they are dependent on big business and the DA."

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In December, I wrote about how Wilson's teachings about women's inferiority appear to inform Hegseth's hostility to women in the military.

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But more importantly, he's changed the perception around a team that had always been known for an inferiority complex that held them back in the past.

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Related Words

• inadequacy