supervisor

American  

[soo-per-vahy-zer] / ˈsu pərˌvaɪ zər /

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.

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supervisor British  

/ 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

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• presupervisor noun
• supervisorship noun

Etymology

Origin of supervisor

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

Example Sentences

By July 23, the state investigators had requested to interview their supervisor and several colleagues, among them the person with the most knowledge on the incident.

From Los Angeles Times

Former DOJ prosecutors told ProPublica that they typically reviewed caseloads every six months with supervisors and that closing out languishing cases wouldn’t ordinarily be cause for concern.

From Salon

“We had rows and rows of battery trays. We were just boxing them up and throwing them in warehouses,” said Daniel Martin, a former production supervisor at the factory.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then boards of supervisors could hire and fire them just like other law enforcement leaders.

From Los Angeles Times

I saw him at practice this morning, but he was busy with his supervisor, and by the time Coach let us go, he was gone.

From Literature

Related Words

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