superficial
[ soo-per-fish-uhl ]
/ ˌsu pərˈfɪʃ əl /
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adjective
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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
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use superficial in a sentence
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, adverbWord 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.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.