superior

/suːˈpɪə.ɹi.ə/

//suːˈpɪə.ɹi.ə// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"superior" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“superior” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #3,263 in English word frequency and used as an adjective.

#3,263
frequency rank, English
8
letters
11
tracked misspellings
2
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Higher in rank, status, or quality.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

superior vs supervisor
80% similar
superior vs supercar
75% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for superior
PropertyValue
Headwordsuperior
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/suːˈpɪə.ɹi.ə/
Letters8
Frequency rank#3,263
Misspellings tracked11
Confusable pairs2
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “superior” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). superior lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for superior is 8 letters long, classified as an adjective, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /suːˈpɪə.ɹi.ə/. Corpus data places it at rank #3,263 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 16 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 11 likely wrong-spelling variants for superior, with forms such as "spuerior", "ssuperior", and "sueprior". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 2 confusable-pair relationships, "supervisor", "supercar", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English, borrowed from Old French superiour, from Latin superior (“higher, upper”). The correct English form is superior, spelled S-U-P-E-R-I-O-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Higher in rank, status, or quality.
  2. 2
    Higher in rank, status, or quality.
  3. 3
    Higher in rank, status, or quality.
  4. 4
    Higher in rank, status, or quality.
  5. 5
    Higher in rank, status, or quality.
  6. 6
    Courageously or serenely indifferent (as to something painful or disheartening).
  7. 7
    Printed in superscript.
  8. 8
    Located above or out; higher in position.
  9. 9
    Located above or out; higher in position.
  10. 10
    Located above or out; higher in position.
  11. 11
    Located above or out; higher in position.
  12. 12
    Located above or out; higher in position.
  13. 13
    Located above or out; higher in position.
  14. 14
    More comprehensive.
  15. 15
    Affecting or assuming an air of superiority.
  16. 16
    Having a wider orbit around the Sun; typically with respect to the Earth.

Etymology

From Middle English, borrowed from Old French superiour, from Latin superior (“higher, upper”).

Synonyms

crowningforemostgreaterhighermajorparamountpreeminentsuperiorsupremeutmostvaulting

Antonyms

inferior

This word in other languages

superior(Español)supérieur(Français)überlegen(Deutsch)superior(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: spuerior,ssuperior,sueprior,supeiror,superiorr,superiro,superoir,superrior,supperior,supreior,usperior

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of superior - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

spuerior2ssuperior1sueprior2supeiror2superiorr1superiro2superoir2superrior1
Edit distance from "superior"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "superior"?
"superior" is spelled S-U-P-E-R-I-O-R. The IPA pronunciation is /suːˈpɪə.ɹi.ə/.
What does "superior" mean?
As an adjective, "superior" means: Higher in rank, status, or quality.
What words are commonly confused with "superior"?
"superior" is commonly confused with "supervisor", "supercar". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "superior"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "superior" is /suːˈpɪə.ɹi.ə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "superior"?
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French superiour, from Latin superior (“higher, upper”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “superior”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-U-P-E-R-I-O-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /suːˈpɪə.ɹi.ə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “supervisor” - see the side-by-side comparison. superior vs supervisor
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list