superiority

/suːˌpɪəriˈɒrəti/ (bre, ipa) · /suːˌpɪriˈɔːrəti/ (ame, ipa) · /su̇-ˌpir-ē-ˈȯr-ə-tē ˌsü-, -ˈär-/ (ame, mw)

superiority — 名詞

1. The condition of being more skilled, capable, or effective than others you are c

1.名詞B2
釋義

優越；優勢

比他人更優秀或更強的狀態

The condition of being more skilled, capable, or effective than others you are compared with.

例句

The team's technical superiority secured them a comfortable victory in the final match.

那支隊伍的技術優勢讓他們在決賽中輕鬆獲勝。

collocation: technical superiority + over (implied)

No one disputes the superiority of this phone's camera over all its competitors.

沒有人質疑這款手機的相機勝過所有競爭對手。

pattern: superiority of [noun] over [noun]

同義詞
  • dominance

    emphasizes control or being the most powerful, not just better

  • supremacy

    stronger than superiority; implies being the highest or most powerful in a competitive context

  • preeminence

    focuses on recognized excellence within a field, often more formal

反義詞

文法句型

superiority + over + noun phrase

用法筆記

Frequently appears with the preposition 'over' to indicate the person or thing being surpassed. Common in formal or analytical writing about sports, technology, military, and business.

常見錯誤

❌He has superiority than the others.
✅He has superiority over the others.
💡Use 'over', not 'than', after 'superiority'.
❌The superiority of this product is obvious than that one.
✅The superiority of this product over that one is obvious.
💡Include 'over' to mark what is being surpassed.

2. An attitude that communicates you believe you are more important or more gifted

2.名詞B2
釋義

優越感；傲慢

自認比他人高一等的態度

An attitude that communicates you believe you are more important or more gifted than everyone else, often making others feel uncomfortable or annoyed.

例句

Ana's constant talk of her achievements gave off an air of superiority that annoyed her classmates.

Ana 總是提起自己的成就，散發出一種讓同學反感的優越感。

collocation: air of superiority

The manager's sense of superiority made it hard for junior staff to share their ideas openly.

經理的優越感讓基層員工不敢暢所欲言。

collocation: sense of superiority

同義詞
  • arrogance

    more direct and common; implies offensive self-importance

  • haughtiness

    suggests looking down on others because of social status or pride

  • condescension

    treating others as if you are doing them a favour by noticing them

反義詞
  • humility

    a modest view of one's own importance

  • modesty

    not bragging about one's abilities or achievements

文法句型

sense of superiority

air of superiority

用法筆記

This sense always carries a negative judgment. It describes an attitude that others find unpleasant, not an objective assessment of being better. Common in fixed phrases: 'air of superiority', 'sense of superiority', 'tone of superiority'.

常見錯誤

❌His superiority in mathematics is annoying.' (unclear — sounds like sense 1)
✅His air of superiority in mathematics is annoying.
💡Use 'air of' or 'sense of' to make the negative attitude meaning clear.

3. The condition of occupying a higher official grade, status, or social class than

3.名詞C1
釋義

上級；高位

職位或社會等級更高的地位

The condition of occupying a higher official grade, status, or social class than someone else.

例句

The general's superiority in rank meant that all officers had to follow his orders without question.

將軍在軍階上的高位意味著所有軍官都必須無條件服從他的命令。

collocation: superiority in rank

In traditional ceremonies, guests are seated according to their social superiority and age.

在傳統儀式中，賓客依其社會地位和年齡就座。

collocation: social superiority

同義詞
  • seniority

    emphasises length of service rather than height of rank

  • precedence

    having the right to be placed before others in order of importance

  • predominance

    being the most numerous or powerful in a group

反義詞

文法句型

superiority + in + noun

social superiority

用法筆記

Typically refers to formal hierarchies such as military command, government agencies, or traditional social structures. Less common in everyday conversation than sense 1 or sense 2.

常見錯誤

❌The superiority of the manager over staff is clear.' (ambiguous — could be sense 1 or 3)
✅The manager's superiority in rank over the staff is clear.
💡Specify 'in rank' or 'in position' to make the hierarchical meaning unambiguous.