superficial
[soo-per-fish-uh l]
- 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
outwardlyapparentlycarelesslycasuallyhastilyostensiblypartiallyskimexternallyextraneouslyfrivolouslyignorantlyExamples from the Web for superficially
Contemporary Examples
Instead, it was superficially crass and, in turn, barely provocative.
The Biggest Bombs of 2014: ‘Sex Tape,’ Mariah Carey’s Vocals, ‘How I Met Your Mother’ and MoreKevin Fallon
December 19, 2014
ID is only superficially supportive of Christian belief, a point I made in the debate.
Ends: When your boss sends out a superficially friendly email reminding everyone to stay safe on the way to the office tomorrow.
With its generous quota of automatic weapons and breaking glass, Die Hard 2 is superficially like a zillion other action movies.
Seriously, ‘Die Hard’ Was a Novel Before It Was a Movie and a Good OneMalcolm Jones
December 22, 2013
They are not superficially Jewish, the way that much of the Jersey Shore gang was superficially Italian-American.
Historical Examples
Still, the standard of wealth has superficially advanced, if that be any satisfaction.
Another SheafJohn Galsworthy
No amount of method will remove the curse of the superficially informed.
College TeachingPaul Klapper
When he had done, he examined, superficially, the wounds of each man.
Nan of Music MountainFrank H. Spearman
Superficially considered, they are an odd mingling of the new and the old.
Early Theories of TranslationFlora Ross Amos
Superficially, the neat rows of houses looked the same as in any other town.
The Status CivilizationRobert Sheckley
superficial
- 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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for superficially
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").
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
superficial
(sōō′pər-fĭsh′əl)- Of, affecting, or being on or near the surface.
- Not thorough.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.