supervisor

[soo-per-vahy-zer]

noun

1. a person who supervises workers or the work done by others; superintendent.

2. Education.,  an official responsible for assisting teachers in the preparation of syllabuses, in devising teaching methods, etc., in a department of instruction, especially in public schools.

3. (in some U.S. states) the chief elected administrative officer of a township, who is often also a member of the governing board of the county.

supervisor

/ ˈsuːpəˌvaɪzə /

noun

1. a person who manages or supervises

2. a foreman or forewoman

3. (in some British universities) a tutor supervising the work, esp research work, of a student

4. (in some US schools) an administrator running a department of teachers

5. (in some US states) the elected chief official of a township or other subdivision of a county

6. obsolete,  a spectator

Other Word Forms

• supervisorship noun
• presupervisor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of supervisor¹

1425–75; late Middle English < Medieval Latin supervīsor, equivalent to supervid-, stem of supervidēre to supervise + -tor -tor, with dt > s

Example Sentences

"It's delicate hands that are needed for a delicate fruit," Rebecca Bonzo, a supervisor at Campbell's farm, tells the BBC in the Shona language.

From BBC

“The idea that pets, or any other non-human, could be registered to vote and participate in election is both absurd and deeply alarming,” according to the memo from the two supervisors.

From Los Angeles Times

The boutique shop also represented so-called below-the-line workers, including script supervisors, costumers and camera operators.

From Los Angeles Times

“They told us they could replace one of us with three, four, or five Indian personnel and still save money,” one laid-off Edison worker told me at the time, recounting a group meeting with supervisors.

From Los Angeles Times

Tower, at 555 W. 5th St., would survive even the most powerful earthquake and the supervisors have said they believe it exceeds safety requirements.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• administrator 
• chief 
• chieftain 
• director 
• employer 
• executive 
• leader 
• owner 

When To Use

What does supervisor mean?

A supervisor is someone who oversees and provides direction for someone or something.More simply, a supervisor is someone who supervises. It’s most commonly used in the context of the workplace to refer to a type of manager who supervises other employees.The adjective supervisory describes things that involve supervision. A supervisor’s role can be described as supervisory.Supervisor can be used more specifically in the context of education to refer to a type of official or tutor or in the context of government to refer to a type of elected local official who serves on a board with other supervisors.Example: The key to being a good supervisor is to give your employees enough space to do their jobs, instead of constantly standing over their shoulders.