superficial

American  

[soo-per-fish-uhl] / ˌsu pərˈfɪʃ əl /

adjective

1. being at, on, or near the surface.

   a superficial wound.

2. of or relating to the surface.

   superficial measurement.

3. external or outward.

   a superficial resemblance.

4. concerned with or comprehending only what is on the surface or obvious.

   a superficial observer.

5. shallow; not profound or thorough.

   a superficial writer.

6. apparent rather than real.

7. insubstantial or insignificant.

   superficial improvements.

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superficial British  

/ ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl, ˌsuːpəˌfɪʃɪˈælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, being near, or forming the surface

   superficial bruising

2. displaying a lack of thoroughness or care

   a superficial inspection

3. only outwardly apparent rather than genuine or actual

   the similarity was merely superficial

4. of little substance or significance; trivial

   superficial differences

5. lacking originality or profundity

   the film's plot was quite superficial

6. (of measurements) involving only the surface area

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• quasi-superficial adjective
• quasi-superficially adverb
• subsuperficial adjective
• subsuperficially adverb
• subsuperficialness noun
• superficiality noun
• superficially adverb
• superficialness noun
• unsuperficial adjective
• unsuperficially adverb

Etymology

Origin of superficial

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English superfyciall, from Late Latin superficiālis, equivalent to Latin superfici(ēs) superficies + -ālis -al ¹

Explanation

Anything superficial has to do with the surface of something. If you're judging a book by its cover, you're being superficial. People who worry too much about their clothes and hair may also be considered superficial. The word superficial has to do with appearances and the surface. If a car is in an accident, but it only has a few scratches, you could say it has superficial damage, because the important parts are OK. If you just glance at a movie for a second, your opinion will be more superficial than the opinion of someone who watched the whole film closely. Superficial can have a negative flavor; calling someone superficial is saying that they are shallow and care too little about meaningful things.

Example Sentences

But “Alpha” rarely transcends its intellectual trappings or superficial themes.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

That goal becomes difficult when students feel pressure to hide their true opinions, making connection superficial at best.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

The panel said the statement did not make any reference to the victims of his offences and "any remorse shown was superficial in its nature".

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

X on Friday denounced what it called the EU's "incomplete and superficial investigation".

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

Is he superficial, or is it shyness that holds him back, even with me?

From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank

Related Words

• cursory
• frivolous
• one-dimensional
• perfunctory
• silly
• sketchy
• slight
• trivial