Standard Lemma guide

superposition

noun · 7 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)uː.pə(ɹ).pəˈzɪʃ.ən/
  • UK: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, General-American: /ˌsu.pɚ.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/
  • Canada: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Australian: /ˌsʉː.pə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/
  • Australian: [ˌsïɯ.pə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən]
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɪʃən

1

noun

Meaning 1

The placing of one thing on top of another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: supraposition, superimposition

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The deposition of one stratum over another; the principle that in a series of sedimentary strata, the lower strata are the older.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: geography, geology, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

The situation in quantum mechanics where two or more quantum states are added together (superposed) to yield another valid quantum state.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Qualifier: quantum mechanics

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

the placement of one thing on top of another

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: placement, location, locating, position, positioning, emplacement

5

noun

Meaning 5

(geometry) the placement of one object ideally in the position of another one in order to show that the two coincide

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: placement, location, locating, position, positioning, emplacement

6

noun

Meaning 6

(geology) the principle that in a series of stratified sedimentary rocks the lowest stratum is the oldest

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: principle of superposition, superposition principle

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: principle, rule

7

noun

Meaning 7

(geology) the deposition of one geological stratum on another

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deposition, deposit

History

Etymology

From French superposition.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: налагане (nalagane) — placing of one thing on top of another
  • Chinese Mandarin: 疊加 /叠加 (diéjiā) — placing of one thing on top of another
  • Greek: υπέρθεση (ypérthesi) — placing of one thing on top of another
  • Kazakh: суперұстаным (superūstanym) — placing of one thing on top of another
  • Kazakh: суперпозиция (superpozisiä) — placing of one thing on top of another
  • Polish: nałożenie — placing of one thing on top of another
  • Spanish: superposición — placing of one thing on top of another
  • Spanish: sobreposición — placing of one thing on top of another
  • Bulgarian: напластяване (naplastjavane) — deposition of one stratum over another
  • Chinese Mandarin: 疊加 /叠加 (diéjiā) — deposition of one stratum over another
  • Kazakh: суперұстаным (superūstanym) — deposition of one stratum over another
  • Kazakh: суперпозиция (superpozisiä) — deposition of one stratum over another
  • Polish: nałożenie — deposition of one stratum over another
  • Chinese Mandarin: 疊加 /叠加 (diéjiā) — situation in quantum mechanics
  • Greek: υπέρθεση (ypérthesi) — situation in quantum mechanics
  • Kazakh: суперұстаным (superūstanym) — situation in quantum mechanics
  • Kazakh: суперпозиция (superpozisiä) — situation in quantum mechanics
  • Persian: برهمنهی (barham-nahi) — situation in quantum mechanics
  • Polish: superpozycja — situation in quantum mechanics