ENGLISH
REFERENCE

superintendent

n.
US //ˌsupɝənˈtɛndənt// UK //sˌuːpəɹɪntˈɛndənt// su·per·in·ten·dent
  1. 1 building manager (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    a person who takes care of an apartment building and makes sure everything works.

    the manager of a residential or commercial building responsible for maintenance and operations; often shortened to 'super' in North American English.

    Example

    If your heater stops working, you should call the superintendent.

    Example

    The superintendent lives in the basement apartment and handles all minor repairs for the building's thirty units.

    Usage

    Often shortened to 'super' in casual conversation.
  2. 2 police rank (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Formal

    a high-ranking police officer who manages a department or area.

    a senior police rank, typically positioned above a chief inspector and below a chief superintendent.

    Example

    The superintendent led the investigation into the local robbery.

    Example

    Superintendent Miller was tasked with reorganising the regional task force after the budget cuts were announced.

    Teacher's tip

    In British crime dramas, this character is often addressed as 'Super' by colleagues.
  3. 3 school official (n.)
    C1 Advanced American English Formal

    the person in charge of all the schools in a specific area or district.

    the chief executive official in charge of a local school district.

    Example

    The school superintendent decided to close the schools because of the heavy snow.

    Example

    The superintendent presented a new five-year plan to the board of education to improve literacy rates across the district.
  4. 4 general supervisor (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    someone who has the power to manage or direct a large project or organisation.

    a person who oversees, directs, or administers a specific project, department, or institution.

    Example

    She was appointed as the superintendent of the new national park.

    Example

    The site superintendent ensured that all safety protocols were strictly followed during the construction of the bridge.
Origin

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

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

Last updated June 20, 2026