superintendent

[soo-per-in-ten-duhnt, soo-prin-]

noun

1. a person who oversees or directs some work, enterprise, establishment, organization, district, etc.; supervisor.

2. a person who is in charge of maintenance and repairs of an apartment house; custodian.

3. a high-ranking police officer, especially a chief of police or an officer ranking next above an inspector.

adjective

1. superintending.

superintendent

/ ˌsuːpərɪnˈtɛndənt, ˌsuːprɪn- /

noun

1. a person who directs and manages an organization, office, etc

2. (in Britain) a senior police officer higher in rank than an inspector but lower than a chief superintendent

3. (in the US) the head of a police department

4. a caretaker, esp of a block of apartments

adjective

1. of or relating to supervision; superintending

Word History and Origins

Origin of superintendent¹

1545–55; < Medieval Latin superintendent- (stem of superintendēns ), present participle of superintendere to superintend; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of superintendent¹

C16: from Church Latin superintendens overseeing

Example Sentences

Des Moines Public Schools placed Roberts on administrative leave and named Associate Superintendent Matt Smith as interim superintendent.

From Salon

Immigration agents have arrested the superintendent of the largest school district in the US state of Iowa, accusing him of overstaying his student visa.

From BBC

Walters has had a controversial tenure since becoming superintendent in January 2023.

From Salon

He sent a letter to the superintendent demanding documents on the district’s diversity policies and accused leaders of “prioritizing race-based policies over basic student safety.”

From Salon

The superintendent confirmed that the memorial artifacts were located “off campus” and then brought back so the memorial could be set up again.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• administrator 
• chief 
• controller 
• curator 
• custodian 
• director 
• inspector 
• manager 
• supervisor