Word
overseer
Phoneticsover·seer
US/ˈoʊvɝˈsiɝ/
UK/ˌəʊvəsˈiə/
Definition
n. a person who is in charge of a group of workers or a specific project. In the past, this word was often used for someone who managed a large farm or a group of slaves.
n. a person who supervises or manages a group of workers or a specific task. Historically used to describe a manager of a plantation or a group of enslaved people.
Examples
“The overseer checked the workers' progress every hour.”
“The overseer of the construction site ensured that all safety protocols were followed during the final phase of the project.”
“In the historical context of the American South, the overseer was often the most feared figure on the plantation, responsible for the daily discipline and productivity of the labor force.”
Examples
simple
“The overseer checked the workers' progress every hour.”
contextual
“The overseer of the construction site ensured that all safety protocols were followed during the final phase of the project.”
complex
“In the historical context of the American South, the overseer was often the most feared figure on the plantation, responsible for the daily discipline and productivity of the labor force.”
Real-World Examples
“Phillips recalled using African overseers, who were enslaved themselves, to keep order, whipping any plotters of mutiny.” “The miners were overwhelmingly Black, while their overseers were white men.” Etymology
From oversee + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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