Standard Lemma guide

super-

prefix · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌs(j)upəː/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˌsupəɹ/

1

prefix

Meaning 1

located above; (anatomy) superior in position

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • superlabial, superglacial, superlineal (examples from )

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prefix

Meaning 2

a more inclusive category

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • supercategory, superfamily, superculture

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

prefix

Meaning 3

beyond, over, or upon

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • supernatural, superhuman, supersonic

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

prefix

Meaning 4

greater than in quantity

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • superwavelength, supersynchronous, superrotation

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

prefix

Meaning 5

excessive; exceptionally large in quantity

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • superphosphate, superhydration

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

prefix

Meaning 6

superior in title or status

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • superintendent, supervisor

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

prefix

Meaning 7

superior in power or potency

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Examples

  • supervolcano, supercow, superantigen, superpotent

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

prefix

Meaning 8

intensely, extremely, or exceptional

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: augmentative, morpheme

Examples

  • superbenevolent, superblizzard, superquiet, supersharp, superbright

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

prefix

Meaning 9

regarding supersymmetry

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Topics: natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

Examples

  • superparticle, superpartner, superWIMP

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

prefix

Meaning 10

regarding superheroes

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: morpheme

Topics: fiction, literature, media, publishing

Examples

  • superheroic

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *úp Proto-Indo-European *-er Proto-Indo-European *upér Proto-Italic *super Latin super Latin super-lbor. English super- Learned borrowing from Latin super-. Doublet of sur-, over-, and hyper-.

Across languages

Translations

59 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: sobre- — above, over, or upon
  • Catalan: super- — above, over, or upon
  • Finnish: yli- — above, over, or upon
  • Galician: sobre- — above, over, or upon
  • Georgian: ზე- (ze-) — above, over, or upon
  • German: über- — above, over, or upon
  • Icelandic: ofur- — above, over, or upon
  • Italian: sovra- — above, over, or upon
  • Italian: super- — above, over, or upon
  • Middle English: sur- — above, over, or upon
  • Middle English: over- — above, over, or upon
  • Pashto: يبي (íbí) — above, over, or upon
  • Polish: nad- — above, over, or upon
  • Polish: ponad- — above, over, or upon
  • Portuguese: sobre- — above, over, or upon
  • Russian: су́пер- (súper-) — above, over, or upon
  • Russian: сверх- (sverx-) — above, over, or upon
  • Spanish: super- — above, over, or upon
  • Spanish: sobre- — above, over, or upon
  • Swedish: över- — above, over, or upon
  • Swedish: super- — above, over, or upon
  • Welsh: uwch- — above, over, or upon
  • Welsh: goruwch- — above, over, or upon
  • Welsh: gor- — above, over, or upon
  • Welsh: ar- — above, over, or upon
  • Welsh: tra- — above, over, or upon
  • Catalan: super- — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Chinese Mandarin: 超 (chāo) — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Czech: super- — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Finnish: yli- — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Finnish: super- — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Georgian: სუპერ- (suṗer-) — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Georgian: ზე- (ze-) — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • German: super- — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • German: über- — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Italian: super- — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Japanese: 超- (chō-) — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Pashto: يبي (íbí) — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Polish: super- — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Portuguese: super- — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Russian: су́пер- (súper-) — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Russian: сверх- (sverx-) — superior in size, quality, number, degree, status, title or position
  • Finnish: super- — inclusive
  • Italian: super- — inclusive
  • Polish: super- — inclusive
  • Russian: над- (nad-) — inclusive
  • Russian: супер- (super-) — inclusive
  • Finnish: super- — (physics) relating to supersymmetry
  • Italian: super- — (physics) relating to supersymmetry
  • Polish: super- — (physics) relating to supersymmetry
  • Russian: супер- (super-) — (physics) relating to supersymmetry
  • Catalan: super- — (fiction) relating to superheroes
  • Finnish: super- — (fiction) relating to superheroes
  • Italian: super- — (fiction) relating to superheroes
  • Pashto: يبي (íbí) — (fiction) relating to superheroes
  • Polish: super- — (fiction) relating to superheroes
  • Portuguese: super- — (fiction) relating to superheroes
  • Russian: су́пер- (súper-) — (fiction) relating to superheroes
  • Welsh: siwpyr- — (fiction) relating to superheroes