superior people

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phrasedisapproving

   People who are thought to be better than others in rank, ability, or character.

   Grammar: Used as a plural noun phrase; it takes a plural verb: superior people are...

   Patterns

   • consider someone superior people
   • superior people to others

   He spoke as if he belonged to a group of superior people.

   The novel gently mocks those who see themselves as superior people.

   No nation has superior people; everyone deserves equal respect.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseformal

   People with greater power or higher status in an organization or society.

   Grammar: This more neutral sense appears in formal writing about rank, not personal worth.

   Patterns

   • superior people in the company
   • superior people in rank

   In the old army, superior people gave orders and others obeyed.

   Decisions were made by superior people far from the factory floor.

Common combinations

feel superior to someone

She never lets herself feel superior to her students.

a sense of superiority

His sense of superiority made him unpopular.

superior in rank

Officers superior in rank sat at the front.

morally superior

They acted as if they were morally superior to everyone else.

Synonyms and how they differ

elite

An elite is a powerful or highly skilled group; 'superior people' is more openly judgmental.

upper class

This refers to social and economic position, not to being better in character.

the privileged

This focuses on advantages such as money; 'superior people' suggests personal worth.

Opposites

Word family

superiority noun

The state of being better or higher in rank.

superior adjective

Better, greater, or higher in rank.

Commonly confused: superior people or superior officer?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “superior people”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words