supervisor

/ˈsuːpəvaɪzə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈsuːpərvaɪzər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsü-pər-ˌvī-zər/ (ame, mw)

supervisor — 名詞

1. a person at work whose duties include watching the tasks, progress, and conduct

1.名詞B2
釋義

主管；督導

監督員工日常工作的人

a person at work whose duties include watching the tasks, progress, and conduct of a group of workers or a specific operation.

例句

Gabriela asked her supervisor for feedback on the monthly sales report.

Gabriela 向她的主管詢問關於每月銷售報告的意見。

possessive: 'her supervisor'

The warehouse supervisor checked each shipment before it left the building.

倉庫主管在每批貨物離開大樓前都檢查了一遍。

[place] + supervisor: location-specific role

同義詞
  • manager

    broader role; includes planning and budgeting, not only daily oversight

  • overseer

    more formal or historical; less common in modern offices

  • foreman

    specific to construction, manufacturing, or manual work settings

反義詞
  • subordinate

    a person lower in rank who reports to a supervisor

  • employee

    general term for a person who works under supervision

用法筆記

Common in business, manufacturing, and service settings. A supervisor typically reports to a manager and oversees front-line workers. The specific title often includes the department or area (shift supervisor, warehouse supervisor, production supervisor).

常見錯誤

❌I asked my supervisor for a day off, and he said me yes.
✅I asked my supervisor for a day off, and he said yes.
💡'say' does not take an indirect object; use 'tell' or rephrase.

2. a university teacher who guides a graduate student's research project, thesis, o

2.名詞B2
釋義

指導教授

指導研究生論文或學業的大學教師

a university teacher who guides a graduate student's research project, thesis, or overall course of academic study.

例句

Emre meets his thesis supervisor every Friday to discuss his research progress.

Emre 每週五與他的論文指導教授見面討論研究進度。

thesis supervisor: common collocation

Professor Okonkwo has been Jenna's academic supervisor since her first year of graduate school.

Okonkwo 教授從 Jenna 研究所第一年就擔任她的指導教授。

academic supervisor: full formal title

同義詞
  • advisor

    more common in US universities; slightly broader in scope

  • mentor

    more personal; focuses on career and personal growth, not just academic work

  • faculty advisor

    formal title used for student clubs or course selection guidance

反義詞
  • student

    the person being supervised

  • advisee

    formal term for a student under a supervisor's guidance

用法筆記

Standard in British and Australian universities for both undergraduate and graduate guidance. In the US, 'advisor' is more common for undergraduates, while 'thesis supervisor' or 'dissertation chair' is used for graduate research. In Taiwan, 指導教授 is the standard equivalent.

常見錯誤

❌I need to find a supervisor for my thesis.' (too vague — 'supervisor' alone can be unclear for non-academic listeners)
✅I need to find a thesis supervisor.
💡adding 'thesis' clarifies the academic context immediately.

3. in some US states, an elected local official who oversees public services and co

3.名詞C1
釋義

地方行政委員

美國民選的地方政府官員

in some US states, an elected local official who oversees public services and community decisions for a county or a town.

例句

The county supervisor held a public meeting about the new road construction plan.

郡行政委員就新的道路建設計畫召開了一場公開會議。

county supervisor: US-specific role

After the local park was closed, Eleni decided to run for town supervisor.

當地的公園關閉後，Eleni 決定參選鎮行政委員。

run for supervisor: election context

同義詞
反義詞
  • constituent

    a voter or resident represented by an elected official

用法筆記

Only used in US local government. Different states have different titles for the same role (commissioner, council member, selectperson). Not used in Taiwan's political system; the closest concepts are 市議員 (city council member) or 區長 (district head).

常見錯誤

❌Taiwan also has county supervisors.
✅Some US counties have elected supervisors, but Taiwan uses different titles for local government roles.
💡This sense is specific to US government structures and should not be applied to other countries.