superintendent

/ˈsupər(ə)nˌtɛndənt/

/supərɪnˈtɛndɪnt/

Other forms: superintendents

A superintendent is the overseer of an organization. The term superintendent is most often used to refer to someone who oversees a school district and — most importantly — decides when to declare a snow day.

A superintendent is also the caretaker for a building, like an apartment complex. The superintendent is the person to call with maintenance issues, such as a broken lock or clogged toilet. Used in this sense, the word is often shortened to "super." A superintendent was originally a church official who oversaw several churches in a district. The word comes from the Latin superintendere, which means to oversee.

Definitions of superintendent

1. noun

   a person who directs and manages an organization
   synonyms: overseer

   types:

   ramrod

   a harshly demanding overseer

   school superintendent

   the superintendent of a school system

   type of:

   supervisor

   one who supervises or has charge and direction of
2. noun

   a caretaker for an apartment house; represents the owner as janitor and rent collector
   synonyms: super

   type of:

   caretaker

   a custodian who is hired to take care of something (property or a person)