superiority
Americannoun
-
superiorities
plural
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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!
Vocabulary lists containing superiority
Power Prefix: super-
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Trumps
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Marita's Bargain," Vocabulary from the essay
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
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
What is obvious is Matisse’s superiority; little wonder that he was attacked.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Fiji demonstrated their attacking superiority, which included an outrageous between-the-legs pass from full-back Salesi Rayasi, but wing Selestino Ravutaumada failed to ground the ball under pressure from Blair Murray.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
Fiji dominated the attacking statistics but Wales managed to contain them, while their set-piece superiority resulted in three of the six tries coming from driving mauls as head coach Steve Tandy's game plan proved successful.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
Those looking for a tale of cultural superiority can find it in zero; those looking for failure can find it in the wheel.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
"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
But all the while these superiorities and inferiorities, which we magnify, seem from Paul's vantage point not nearly so important or so real as we think they are.
From Christianity and Progress by Harry Emerson Fosdick
At the dissolution of religious houses this priory with all its revenues and superiorities passed, by order of the King, to Campbell of Glenorchy, ancestor of the Lords of Breadalbane.
From Chronicles of Strathearn by W. B. Macdougall
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.
