superintendent

American  

[soo-per-in-ten-duhnt, soo-prin-] / ˌsu pər ɪnˈtɛn dənt, ˌsu prɪn- /

noun

1. a person who oversees or directs some work, enterprise, establishment, organization, district, etc.; supervisor.

2. a person who is in charge of maintenance and repairs of an apartment house; custodian.

3. a high-ranking police officer, especially a chief of police or an officer ranking next above an inspector.

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adjective

1. superintending.

superintendent British  

/ ˌsuːpərɪnˈtɛndənt, ˌsuːprɪn- /

noun

1. a person who directs and manages an organization, office, etc

2. (in Britain) a senior police officer higher in rank than an inspector but lower than a chief superintendent

3. (in the US) the head of a police department

4. a caretaker, esp of a block of apartments

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adjective

1. of or relating to supervision; superintending

Etymology

Origin of superintendent

1545–55; < Medieval Latin superintendent- (stem of superintendēns ), present participle of superintendere to superintend; -ent

Example Sentences

Yuen told the jury that he retired as a superintendent in the Hong Kong Police Force at the age of 55, and moved to the UK to join his wife and children immediately.

From BBC

"Sorry to press you on this superintendent but you would have expected a call to be made," he said.

From BBC

The assistant superintendent could eat his dinner off the floor.

From Literature

A superintendent assigned to the case gives George free rein to pursue his theories.

From The Wall Street Journal

That’s a bet that Clay Jordan, superintendent of Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, is not willing to take with the nearly 40% of the world’s giant sequoias under his care.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• administrator
• chief
• controller
• curator
• custodian
• director
• inspector
• manager
• supervisor