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superficial

[soo-per-fish-uh l]
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adjective

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RELATED WORDS

slight, cursory, one-dimensional, perfunctory, sketchy, silly, trivial, frivolous, apparent, casual, cosmetic, desultory, empty, evident, exterior, external, flash, flimsy, general, glib

Nearby words

  1. superfamily,
  2. superfecta,
  3. superfecundation,
  4. superfemale,
  5. superfetation,
  6. superficial dorsal veins of clitoris,
  7. superficial dorsal veins of penis,
  8. superficial epigastric vein,
  9. superficial fascia,
  10. superficial fascia of perineum

Origin of superficial

1375–1425; late Middle English superfyciall < Late Latin superficiālis, equivalent to Latin superfici(ēs) superficies + -ālis -al1
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for superficial

British Dictionary definitions for superficial

superficial

adjective

of, relating to, being near, or forming the surfacesuperficial bruising
displaying a lack of thoroughness or carea superficial inspection
only outwardly apparent rather than genuine or actualthe similarity was merely superficial
of little substance or significance; trivialsuperficial differences
lacking originality or profunditythe film's plot was quite superficial
(of measurements) involving only the surface area
Derived Formssuperficiality (ˌsuːpəˌfɪʃɪˈælɪtɪ) or rare superficialness, nounsuperficially, adverb

Word Origin for superficial

C14: from Late Latin superficiālis of the surface, from Latin superficies
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for superficial

superficial

adj.

late 14c., in anatomical and mathematical uses, "of or relating to a surface," from Latin superficialis "of or pertaining to the surface," from superficies "surface," from super "above, over" (see super-) + facies "form, face" (see face (n.)). Meaning "not deep, without thorough understanding, cursory" (of perceptions, thoughts, etc.) first recorded early 15c. (implied in superficially "not thoroughly").

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for superficial

superficial

[sōō′pər-fĭsh′əl]

adj.

Of, affecting, or being on or near the surface.
Not thorough.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.