superficial
Americanadjective
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being at, on, or near the surface.
a superficial wound.
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of or relating to the surface.
superficial measurement.
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external or outward.
a superficial resemblance.
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concerned with or comprehending only what is on the surface or obvious.
a superficial observer.
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shallow; not profound or thorough.
a superficial writer.
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apparent rather than real.
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insubstantial or insignificant.
superficial improvements.
adjective
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of, relating to, being near, or forming the surface
superficial bruising
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displaying a lack of thoroughness or care
a superficial inspection
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only outwardly apparent rather than genuine or actual
the similarity was merely superficial
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of little substance or significance; trivial
superficial differences
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lacking originality or profundity
the film's plot was quite superficial
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(of measurements) involving only the surface area
Usage
What does superficial mean? Superficial describes something as being of or related to the surface, as a scratch on your arm would be a superficial wound.Superficial can describe something that is literally close to a surface, such as a small cut, or figuratively close to the surface. When you and your sibling have the same nose shape and same eye color but don’t otherwise look like each other, you superficially look like each other. The sameness doesn’t go very far.Example: This article is very superficial, barely sharing any details about the event.
Other Word Forms
- quasi-superficial adjective
- quasi-superficially adverb
- subsuperficial adjective
- subsuperficially adverb
- subsuperficialness noun
- superficiality noun
- superficially adverb
- superficialness noun
- unsuperficial adjective
- unsuperficially adverb
Etymology
Origin of superficial
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English superfyciall, from Late Latin superficiālis, equivalent to Latin superfici(ēs) superficies + -ālis -al 1
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.
"So these events are more difficult to detect, especially when they are older than a few thousand years and after being buried, leave little or no superficial evidence."
From Science Daily
The concern is that the superficial attractiveness of this product draws in unsuspecting homeowners who expose themselves to longer-term risks.
From MarketWatch
But modern playwrights, particularly those who see their roles as storytellers, have resisted such superficial strictures.
From Los Angeles Times
AI-generated entertainment content ultimately fails to engage audiences authentically because viewers seek human creativity and connection, which AI cannot replicate beyond superficial imitation, suggesting the problem may self-correct through consumer indifference rather than intentional resistance.
From Los Angeles Times
In just under half the cases, ultrasound scans showed absent blood flow to small blood vessels that connect superficial arteries to deep ones in the face.
From BBC
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.
