superhero
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of superhero
First recorded in 1895–1900; from French super-héros
Explanation
A fictional character with extraordinary powers who saves people from danger is a superhero. In real life, anyone who comes to the rescue can also be called a superhero. You know a superhero when you see one: in the movies or comics, they wear costumes and fight crime. Wonder Woman, Superman, Black Panther, and Iron Man are all familiar superheroes who use their superhuman abilities in amazing ways. Ordinary people who do amazing things — saving a child from drowning, running into a burning building for a pet cat, raising huge amounts of money for a good cause — are also superheroes.
Vocabulary lists containing superhero
Hands
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Comic Book Day
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A Boy Called Bat
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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.
Some have depicted him as a king, a superhero, a doctor, a warrior or a religious figure.
From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026
The world's arguably most well-known everyday superhero is best recognised for his colourful blue and red suit.
From BBC • May 27, 2026
All via a contemporary superhero like “Spider-Man,” arguably Stan Lee’s most popular creation.
From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026
Videos of these endeavors appeared online, and soon other people were calling Manzo a superhero, too.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
A technical wizard, Tsalig was a superhero to me.
From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson
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.
