Finesentence logo

Inferior: meaning, definitions and examples

👎
Add to dictionary

inferior

 

[ ɪnˈfɪəriər ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

quality

Lower in rank, status, or quality; not as good as someone or something else

Synonyms

lesser, lower, substandard

Examples of usage

  • He always felt inferior to his older brother.
  • The quality of the material is inferior to what we were promised.
  • She couldn't shake off the feeling of being inferior to her colleagues.
Context #2 | Adjective

position

Situated lower down; under

Synonyms

lower, underneath

Examples of usage

  • The inferior surface of the leaf is usually lighter in color.
  • The inferior part of the building needs renovation.

Translations

Translations of the word "inferior" in other languages:

🇵🇹 inferior

🇮🇳 निम्न

🇩🇪 minderwertig

🇮🇩 rendah

🇺🇦 нижчий

🇵🇱 niższy

🇯🇵 劣っている (おとっている)

🇫🇷 inférieur

🇪🇸 inferior

🇹🇷 aşağı

🇰🇷 열등한 (열등한)

🇸🇦 أدنى

🇨🇿 nižší

🇸🇰 nižší

🇨🇳 次等的 (cìděng de)

🇸🇮 nižji

🇮🇸 lægri

🇰🇿 төмен

🇬🇪 დაბალი

🇦🇿 aşağı

🇲🇽 inferior

Etymology

The word 'inferior' originated from the Latin word 'inferior', which means lower. It has been used in English since the late 16th century. Over the years, 'inferior' has been commonly used to describe something of lower quality or rank compared to something else. The concept of inferiority has been prevalent in human societies, leading to discrimination and inequality. Understanding the implications of labeling something as inferior is crucial in promoting equality and respect among individuals.

See also: infer, inferable, inference, infernal, inferno, inferrable, inferred.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,487, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.