superficial

[ soo-per-fish-uh l ]
/ ˌsu pərˈfɪʃ əl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR superficial ON THESAURUS.COM

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

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. 2020

Words related to superficially

outwardly, apparently, carelessly, casually, hastily, ostensibly, partially, skim, externally, extraneously, frivolously, ignorantly

Example sentences from the Web for superficially

British Dictionary definitions for superficially

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 superficially

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.