supervision

[soo-per-vizh-uhn]

noun

1. the act or function of supervising; superintendence.

Other Word Forms

• nonsupervision noun
• presupervision noun
• prosupervision adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of supervision¹

1615–25; < Medieval Latin supervīsiōn- (stem of supervīsiō ) oversight, equivalent to super- super- + vīsiōn- vision

Related Words

• administration 
• care 
• control 
• guidance 
• instruction 
• oversight 
• surveillance 

When To Use

What does supervision mean?

Supervision is the act of overseeing or watching over someone or something.Supervision is the noun form of the verb supervise, meaning to oversee or watch over. You can supervise a project, but most of the time supervision means supervising people, especially parents supervising their children or a manager or supervisor supervising their employees.Someone or something being supervised is said to be under supervision. When it’s used in the context of adults watching children, the word often appears in the phrases parental supervision and adult supervision. Children or other people who can’t be left alone are said to need constant supervision.Example: All children in this building must be under adult supervision.