supervisory
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
What does supervisory mean? Supervisory is used to describe things that involve supervision, which is the act of overseeing, watching over, and providing direction for someone or something. Supervisory is an adjective form of the verb supervise, and it’s especially used in the phrases supervisory role and supervisory capacity, both of which refer to positions that involve supervision (or positions for which supervision is a responsibility). The word supervise often refers to supervising a project or people, parents supervising their children, or a manager or supervisor supervising their employees. Supervisory is most often used in the context of supervisors in the workplace or government agencies that conduct oversight. Example: I’ve been asked to come on in a supervisory capacity to oversee the project.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of supervisory
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.
AkzoNobel’s management and supervisory boards unanimously recommend a proposed merger with U.S. peer Axalta Coating Systems.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026
An AI double with a supervisory role could create legal headaches by misstating employment rules, for instance.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
Murray said there is uncertainty around what faculties or courses could be affected by job losses but that the students' union is particularly concerned for PhD students who rely on supervisory teams.
From BBC • May 17, 2026
He also pointed to a decline in supervisory staffing, saying the number of bank examiners has fallen by about 30%, with many experienced officials leaving.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
Across the gorge and slightly upstream, perched on a gravel bench on the west side, was the government-built town the clerk had told Joe was Engineer City—home to technical and supervisory personnel.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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.
