super

¹ American  

[soo-per] / ˈsu pər /

noun

1. Informal.

   1. a superintendent, especially of an apartment house.

   2. supermarket.

   3. supernumerary.

   4. supervisor.

2. an article of a superior quality, grade, size, etc.

3. (in beekeeping) the portion of a hive in which honey is stored.

4. Printing. supercalendered paper.

5. Television. an additional image superimposed on the original video image.

   A super of the guest's name is included under the picture when the guest is introduced.

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adjective

1. of the highest degree, power, etc.

2. of an extreme or excessive degree.

3. Informal. very good; first-rate; excellent.

4. (of measurement) superficial.

5. superfine.

adverb

1. Slang. very; extremely or excessively.

   super classy; a super large portion of food.

super- ² American  

1. a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, with the basic meaning “above, beyond.” Words formed with super- have the following general senses: “to place or be placed above or over” (superimpose; supersede ), “a thing placed over or added to another” (superscript; superstructure; supertax ), “situated over” (superficial; superlunary ) and, more figuratively, “an individual, thing, or property that exceeds customary norms or levels” (superalloy; superconductivity; superman; superstar ), “an individual or thing larger, more powerful, or with wider application than others of its kind” (supercomputer; superhighway; superpower; supertanker ), “exceeding the norms or limits of a given class” (superhuman; superplastic ), “having the specified property to a great or excessive degree” (supercritical; superfine; supersensitive ), “to subject to (a physical process) to an extreme degree or in an unusual way” (supercharge; supercool; supersaturate ), “a category that embraces a number of lesser items of the specified kind” (superfamily; supergalaxy ), “a chemical compound with a higher proportion than usual of a given constituent” (superphosphate ).

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super. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. superintendent.

2. superior.

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super ¹ British  

/ ˈsuːpə /

adjective

1. informal outstanding; exceptionally fine

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noun

1. petrol with a high octane rating

2. informal a superintendent or supervisor

3. informal superannuation benefits

4. informal superphosphate

interjection

1. informal an enthusiastic expression of approval or assent

super- ² British  

prefix

1. placed above or over

   superscript

2. of greater size, extent, quality, etc

   supermarket

3. surpassing others; outstanding

   superstar

4. beyond a standard or norm; exceeding or exceedingly

   supersonic

5. indicating that a chemical compound contains a specified element in a higher proportion than usual

   superoxide

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Usage

What is a basic definition of super? Super is an adjective that describes something as of the highest power or an extreme degree or as excellent. Super is also used in slang as an adverb meaning very or extremely. Super has several other senses as a noun and an adjective. If something is super, it is of the highest power, rank, authority, or similar quality or is the most extreme. Unsurprisingly, this sense of super is often used for emphasis in marketing or informal writing.

• Real-life examples: A store might advertise a super sale that is supposedly the biggest one of the year. A lottery might have a super jackpot that is the largest jackpot possible. The National Football League’s biggest and most important game is called the Super Bowl. In the United States, the term Super Tuesday refers to the day when the most states hold presidential primary elections.
• Used in a sentence: Many people are concerned about the influence super PACs have in politics because they don’t have a spending limit. 

Informally, super is used to mean something is excellent.

• Used in a sentence: Janet’s work on the project was super and earned her a promotion.

Super is commonly used in slang as an adverb to mean very or extremely.

• Used in a sentence: My sister is so super scared of mice that seeing a cartoon mouse frightens her.

Etymology

Origin of super¹

First recorded in 1620–30; 1920–25 super for def. 8; independent use of super- (construed as an adjective or adverb), or shortening of words prefixed with it

Origin of super-²

< Latin super (preposition and v. prefix) above, beyond, in addition, to an especially high degree; akin to Greek hypér ( hyper- ), Sanskrit upari; over

Explanation

When something is extraordinary, it’s super, like a movie that couldn't possibly be better or the super grade you got on your test: A+. The adjective super is an abbreviated use of the prefix super-, which comes from the Latin super-, meaning “above,” “over,” or “beyond.” Super is another way to say "the best" — you are above the rest. Super can also describe something that's really big: the supermarket came along after little neighborhood shops; supermarkets are huge in comparison.

Example Sentences

“I’m super excited for that. That will be a smooth transition, playing with her.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026

Latest preliminary results give Tisza 136 seats, down from an earlier figure of 138 but still a comfortable "super majority" of two-thirds of the seats in parliament, enabling the party to change the constitution.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

"We shouldn't expect Hungary to become super pro-Ukraine membership all of a sudden," said a second senior EU diplomat.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

He had led Nike’s footwear innovation for about a decade before that, including during the development of Nike’s breakthrough super shoe, the ZoomX Vaporfly.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

He raises his eyebrows as if I’ve given away that I super deeply care about him just by admitting I know what he did last summer.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• great
• magnificent
• marvelous
• outstanding
• sensational
• superb
• terrific
• topnotch