supervision
Americannoun
Usage
What does supervision mean? Supervision is the act of overseeing or watching over someone or something.Supervision is the noun form of the verb supervise, meaning to oversee or watch over. You can supervise a project, but most of the time supervision means supervising people, especially parents supervising their children or a manager or supervisor supervising their employees.Someone or something being supervised is said to be under supervision. When it’s used in the context of adults watching children, the word often appears in the phrases parental supervision and adult supervision. Children or other people who can’t be left alone are said to need constant supervision.Example: All children in this building must be under adult supervision.
Other Word Forms
- nonsupervision noun
- presupervision noun
- prosupervision adjective
Etymology
Origin of supervision
1615–25; < Medieval Latin supervīsiōn- (stem of supervīsiō ) oversight, equivalent to super- super- + vīsiōn- vision
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.
The ECB took over banking supervision across the euro zone in 2014, setting a positive precedent for capital markets.
From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026
At the height of the Cold War, Germany had more than half a million personnel under arms - but always within Nato and under US supervision.
From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026
In his letters, Merkley said both KinderCare and Learning Care Group have been cited by multiple states for issues related to staff supervision and safety, while also receiving government subsidies.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
The lawsuit says the venue is responsible for premises liability and Lamb for negligent hiring and supervision.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026
It was also why he had organized the house on an efficiency basis, so that it would operate smoothly without supervision; so that the older children would be responsible for the younger ones.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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.
