superiority

/səˈpɪriˌɔrədi/

/supɪriˈɔrɪti/

Other forms: superiorities

Superiority is the quality of being better than or superior to someone else. Your superiority in the sack race won you a first-place ribbon.

Superiority refers to the best. It’s better than, above, greater than everything else, whether there’s something to compare it to — the superiority of one ice cream flavor over another — or whether it just describes a general state of high quality — the superiority of the University library. Of course, sometimes superiority is all in your head; in that case, some people might say you have a superiority complex, which means that you think you’re better than everyone else!

Definitions of superiority

1. noun

   the quality of being superior
   synonyms: high quality

   antonyms:

   inferiority

   an inferior quality

   types:

   choiceness, fineness

   the quality of being very good indeed

   first class

   the highest rank in a classification

   first water

   the highest quality gems

   cleverness, ingeniousness, ingenuity

   the property of being ingenious

   type of:

   caliber, calibre, quality

   a degree or grade of excellence or worth
2. noun

   the quality of being at a competitive advantage
   synonyms: favorable position, favourable position

   types:

   edge

   a slight competitive advantage

   inside track

   a favorable position in a competition

   upper hand, whip hand

   position of advantage and control

   type of:

   advantage, vantage

   the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
3. noun

   the state of excelling or surpassing or going beyond usual limits
   synonyms: transcendence, transcendency

   type of:

   domination, mastery, supremacy

   power to dominate or defeat
4. noun

   displaying a sense of being better than others
   type of:

   arrogance, haughtiness, hauteur, high-handedness, lordliness

   overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors