superhero
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of superhero
First recorded in 1895–1900; from French super-héros
Explanation
A fictional character with extraordinary powers who saves people from danger is a superhero. In real life, anyone who comes to the rescue can also be called a superhero. You know a superhero when you see one: in the movies or comics, they wear costumes and fight crime. Wonder Woman, Superman, Black Panther, and Iron Man are all familiar superheroes who use their superhuman abilities in amazing ways. Ordinary people who do amazing things — saving a child from drowning, running into a burning building for a pet cat, raising huge amounts of money for a good cause — are also superheroes.
Vocabulary lists containing superhero
Hands
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Comic Book Day
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Boy Called Bat
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Any comic book fan knows that Spider-Man's secret identity is Peter Parker, a science nerd who gained superhero powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
Filming almost brought the city centre to a halt last summer, when fans gathered to watch Holland in an action sequence in full superhero mode.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
The superhero genre has had a tougher time at the box office lately.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
After it licensed the Spider-Man film and live-action TV rights from then-struggling comic book publisher Marvel, Sony launched the modern superhero movie era with a blockbuster 2002 adaptation starring Tobey Maguire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Together, they were like one of those superhero alliances in the comic books, invincible, an unconquerable confederation of boredom and confusion.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Gen Z largely views superheroes as entertainment for older generations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
At the end of term, Dáibhin's school dedicated a day to him, with his classmates dressing up as superheroes in his honour.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
"I always wanted to do comedy. I mean, I've always done action my whole life," where playing superheroes felt "inevitable."
From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026
And get a glimpse of dragons, superheroes, airbenders and pro athletes while you’re at it.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 13, 2026
My friend keeps talking about all the awesome adventures we could have as superheroes.
From "Free Lunch" by Rex Ogle
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.
