supervisory
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does supervisory mean? Supervisory is used to describe things that involve supervision, which is the act of overseeing, watching over, and providing direction for someone or something. Supervisory is an adjective form of the verb supervise, and it’s especially used in the phrases supervisory role and supervisory capacity, both of which refer to positions that involve supervision (or positions for which supervision is a responsibility). The word supervise often refers to supervising a project or people, parents supervising their children, or a manager or supervisor supervising their employees. Supervisory is most often used in the context of supervisors in the workplace or government agencies that conduct oversight. Example: I’ve been asked to come on in a supervisory capacity to oversee the project.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of supervisory
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.
Meanwhile, according to the memo, Barragan wrote a supervisory inquiry in which he “recommended further investigation into the matter.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026
Although the agency possesses broad authority to issue market-monitoring requests, these lenders generally fall below its $10 billion supervisory threshold and therefore are not ordinarily subject to this level of scrutiny.
From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026
Labour representatives and the German state of Lower Saxony, who both take a dim view of plant closures, together hold more than half the seats on the supervisory board.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Others question whether Matsumoto, with his limited supervisory experience, can navigate multiple management challenges.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
Simba Quix was doing a lot to open up managerial and supervisory positions to blacks: there were already one or two black district managers in the company.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
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.
