superiority

American  

[suh-peer-ee-awr-i-tee, -or-, soo-] / səˌpɪər iˈɔr ɪ ti, -ˈɒr-, sʊ- /

noun

• superiorities
  plural

1. 

   the quality or condition of being superior.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• superiorities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of superiority

First recorded in 1520–30, superiority is from the Medieval Latin word superiōritāt- (stem of superiōritās ). See superior, -ity

Explanation

Superiority is the quality of being better than or superior to someone else. Your superiority in the sack race won you a first-place ribbon. Superiority refers to the best. It’s better than, above, greater than everything else, whether there’s something to compare it to — the superiority of one ice cream flavor over another — or whether it just describes a general state of high quality — the superiority of the University library. Of course, sometimes superiority is all in your head; in that case, some people might say you have a superiority complex, which means that you think you’re better than everyone else!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

superiority superiorities

Arsenal's superiority was illustrated by having 26 shots, their most in a single Champions League match since records started being kept in 2003-04.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

All of them have top-flight or international experience, as well as physicality to their game, but even those additions did little to prevent Arsenal from asserting their superiority on Friday night.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

“The decision will have broader implications for carrier readiness, national security, and U.S. technological superiority, potentially creating opportunities for adversaries to close the capability gap,” the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

But El-Sayed ably weaponized these resources against Stevens, making her financial superiority the core of his argument against her.

From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026

Given our father’s characteristic air of superiority, I secretly expected him to live in a manor house surrounded by grounds and serviced by a liveried staff.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

"Obviously none of the other materials . . . would produce a comb possessing the many excellent qualities and inherent superiorities of a comb made of celluloid," Hyatt wrote in one of his patent applications.

From Scientific American ● May 29, 2011

All of the expected prestige names turn up at the top, but the study is nonetheless full of fascinating comparisons and subtle superiorities.

From Time Magazine Archive

Adding up what is known of most of these factors, the margins, evident superiorities, palpable weaknesses of the three belligerent air forces stack up somewhat as follows.

From Time Magazine Archive

If you reflect on these superiorities, you will say with the Count of Rochester—"In a country of atheists love would cause the Deity to be worshipped."

From Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary by Voltaire

Before going on to exhibit the higher and subtler applications of the principle exemplified, let us note its many and great superiorities over the principle, or rather the empirical practice, which prevails in most families.

From Essays on Education and Kindred Subjects Everyman's Library by Herbert Spencer

Related Words

• dominance
• excellence
• perfection
• preeminence
• prestige
• supremacy
• upper hand