English Reference
Noun

inferiority

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˌɪnfɪɹiˈɔɹɪˌti/ UK /ɪnfˌiəɹɪˈɒɹɪti/ in·fe·ri·or·i·ty UK spelling inferiorities

n.a feeling that you are not as good as other people. It can also describe a situation where one thing is of lower quality than another.

n.a state or condition of being of lower quality, rank, or value than another. Often refers to a psychological state of feeling less capable or less worthy than others.


SIMPLE

He felt a deep sense of inferiority after losing the competition.

CONTEXTUAL

The company's new product is technically inferior to its competitor's, but it is much cheaper for the average consumer.

COMPLEX

The psychological concept of inferiority often manifests in a person's belief that they are fundamentally flawed or unworthy of success, regardless of their actual achievements.

Feelings of inferiority had haunted him since childhood, when his father was imprisoned for debt, and ever after Dickens (understandably) worried about money.

Aeon· 3 Sept 2026

My work shows how the growing association between alligators and Black bodies was part of this larger campaign to reinforce notions of Black inferiority.

The Conversation· 11 Aug 2026

Morphologically inferior + -ity.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated