mother superior

American  

noun

plural

mother superiors, mothers superior

1. the head of a Christian religious community for women.

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mother superior British  

noun

1. the head of a community of nuns

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Etymology

Origin of mother superior

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Emily Watson plays the manipulative mother superior who slips Bill an envelope of cash to buy his complicity.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2025

Bryant, one of the first to challenge that imbalance, became a mother superior to any number of young artists, including Hammons.

From The New Yorker • Dec. 2, 2019

The nuns feed about 2,500 migrants once a day – rice, beans, eggs and bread – thought donations are scarce and local traders often try to gouge prices, said Sister Bertha López, the mother superior.

From The Guardian • Jun. 5, 2019

Afterward she quietly told her mother superior, who allowed her to avoid other meetings with the priest.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 1, 2019

“I really don’t think the mother superior wants an eejit at the convent,” Emilia said.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer