ENGLISH
REFERENCE

superintendent

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˌsupɝənˈtɛndənt// UK //sˌuːpəɹɪntˈɛndənt// su·per·in·ten·dent

n. a person who is in charge of a building, a department, or a group of people. In some countries, this is also a high rank for a police officer.

n. a person who oversees or directs an organization, department, or building. Often used as a formal title for high-ranking police officials or school district administrators.


SIMPLE

The building superintendent fixed the leaking pipe in my kitchen.

CONTEXTUAL

The school board met with the superintendent to discuss the new budget for the upcoming academic year.

COMPLEX

After years of service in the metropolitan police force, she was promoted to the rank of superintendent, overseeing several local precincts.

Synonyms
Origin

From Ecclesiastical Latin superintendens, a calque of Ancient Greek ἐπίσκοπος (epískopos); thence being distantly related to English bishop.

Usage

Often abbreviated as 'super' when referring to a building manager in informal North American English.

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