superficial

[ soo-per-fish-uhl ]

/ ˌsu pərˈfɪʃ əl /

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See synonyms for superficial on Thesaurus.com

adjective

being at, on, or near the surface: a superficial wound.

of or relating to the surface: superficial measurement.

external or outward: a superficial resemblance.

concerned with or comprehending only what is on the surface or obvious: a superficial observer.

shallow; not profound or thorough: a superficial writer.

apparent rather than real.

insubstantial or insignificant: superficial improvements.

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Origin of superficial

1375–1425; late Middle English superfyciall<Late Latin superficiālis, equivalent to Latin superfici(ēs) superficies + -ālis-al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM superficial

su·per·fi·ci·al·i·ty

[soo-per-fish-ee-al-i-tee], /ˌsu pərˌfɪʃ iˈæl ɪ ti/, su·per·fi·cial·ness, nounsu·per·fi·cial·ly, adverbqua·si-su·per·fi·cial, adjectivequa·si-su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverb

sub·su·per·fi·cial, adjectivesub·su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverbsub·su·per·fi·cial·ness, nounun·su·per·fi·cial, adjectiveun·su·per·fi·cial·ly, adverb

Words nearby superficial

superfamily, superfecta, superfecundation, superfemale, superfetation, superficial, superficial dorsal veins of clitoris, superficial dorsal veins of penis, superficial epigastric vein, superficial fascia, superficial fascia of perineum

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use superficial in a sentence

You might object that the approach creates only superficial mimicry — the way some alchemists claimed to have “made gold” by applying some surface treatment to another metal that induced chemical reactions to gave the metal a golden sheen.
Alchemy Arrives in a Burst of Light|Philip Ball|September 30, 2020|Quanta Magazine
Popular critiques of millennials, in the mid-2000s and beyond, ranged from “They’re too entitled” to “Technology and social media are making them superficial.”
Why Sex Is No Longer a Teen Commodity|Joshua Eferighe|September 21, 2020|Ozy
He also suffered a superficial wound to his left thigh and a graze wound to his forehead.
Prosecutors charge teen in fatal shooting of two protestors and wounding of a third in Kenosha|kdunn6|August 28, 2020|Fortune
The government could easily make superficial efforts to address public backlash against visible data collection without really touching the core of the Ministry of Public Security’s national operations, says Wang, of Human Rights Watch.
Inside China’s unexpected quest to protect data privacy|Tate Ryan-Mosley|August 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review

“They have a superficial understanding of the marketplace,” he added.
‘You need to fix the entire line’: Publishers’ sales and revenue teams struggle with entrenched diversity problem|Max Willens|July 10, 2020|Digiday
Her Miss America win transcended mere superficial beauty standards.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But it will take more than superficial solidarity to dismantle those structures and the ideologies that birthed them.
Jamie Foxx: Get Over the Black ‘Annie’|Stereo Williams|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is loathed by some critics who find it patronizing, silly, and superficial.
'The Newsroom' Ended As It Began: Weird, Controversial, and Noble|Kevin Fallon|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The implication is that she might even have assisted her husband inflicting his superficial wounds.
Did Joran Van Der Sloot Fake His Prison Shanking?|Andrea Zarate, Barbie Latza Nadeau|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Every Bentley is made to order, which essentially means anything “superficial” is possible.
Behind the Wheel of the Bespoke Bentley|Zoe Settle|October 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"It has a superficial, glittering prettiness, without—" I hesitated to find the word I wanted.
Three More John Silence Stories|Algernon Blackwood
This design reveals a stumbling-block that superficial people fall over.
Life of Richard Trevithick, Volume II (of 2)|Francis Trevithick
So strong were prejudices in favour of superficial morality in even that licentious age!
The Portsmouth Road and Its Tributaries|Charles G. Harper
A little or superficial knowledge may incline a man's mind to atheism; but depth in philosophy bringeth him back to religion.
Gospel Philosophy|J. H. Ward
In touching truly deep and serious things Mistral is often superficial, and passes them off with a commonplace.
Frdric Mistral|Charles Alfred Downer

British Dictionary definitions for superficial

superficial

/ (ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl) /

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 forms of superficial

superficiality (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

Medical definitions for superficial

superficial

[ sōō′pər-fĭsh′əl ]

adj.

Of, affecting, or being on or near the surface.

Not thorough.

superficial

Origin of superficial

OTHER WORDS FROM superficial

Words nearby superficial

Words related to superficial

How to use superficial in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for superficial

Derived forms of superficial

Word Origin for superficial

Medical definitions for superficial