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inferior

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ɪnˈfɪriər/ · UK /ɪnˈfɪəriə/

inferior means: Lower in quality, ability, importance, or rank than someone or something else.

adjective

LOWER QUALITYB2

Lower in quality, ability, importance, or rank than someone or something else.

  • These shoes are made from inferior materials.
  • He felt inferior to his classmates.
  • The new model is inferior to the old one.

How to use it: inferior to someone/something (The cheaper fabric is inferior to the original.)

Similar words: poorer, lower, worse

Opposites: superior

Common phrases: inferior quality, inferior materials, inferior to something

INSIDE EARTH'S ORBITC2

Having an orbit closer to the Sun than Earth's orbit.

  • Venus is an inferior planet.
  • The inferior planets orbit closer to the Sun than Earth does.
  • Mercury and Venus are both inferior planets.

Similar words: interior

Opposites: superior

Common phrases: inferior planet, inferior planets

BELOW TEXT LINEC2

Printed below the usual line of text, often in a smaller size.

  • The formula ends with an inferior figure.
  • Set the number in inferior type.
  • The printer placed the inferior characters below the line.

Similar words: subscript

Opposites: superscript

Common phrases: inferior letter, inferior figure, inferior character

BELOW HORIZONC2

Situated below the line where the sky seems to meet the earth.

  • The diagram shows the inferior semicircle.
  • The inferior meridian arc lies below the horizon.
  • Students marked the inferior portion of the celestial circle.

Opposites: superior

Common phrases: inferior meridian arc, inferior semicircle

noun

LOWER RANKED PERSONC1

A person considered lower in rank, position, or ability than another person.

  • He treated everyone as an inferior.
  • The officer expected his inferiors to obey.
  • She never regarded her assistants as inferiors.

How to use it: someone's inferior (She refused to treat him as her inferior.)

Similar words: subordinate

Opposites: superior

Common phrases: social inferior, an inferior, someone's inferior

SUBSCRIPT CHARACTERC2

A letter, number, or symbol printed below the usual line of text.

  • The final digit is an inferior.
  • This font includes several numerical inferiors.
  • The printer moved the inferior below the main line.

Similar words: subscript

Opposites: superscript

Common phrases: an inferior, numerical inferior, print an inferior

Questions about inferior

What does inferior mean?

Lower in quality, ability, importance, or rank than someone or something else.

What is inferior in other languages?

Türkçe: daha düşük · Español: inferior · Français: inférieur · Deutsch: minderwertig · Italiano: inferiore · 日本語: 劣った

How do you pronounce inferior?

In American English /ɪnˈfɪriər/; in British English /ɪnˈfɪəriə/.

How do you use inferior in a sentence?

These shoes are made from inferior materials. He felt inferior to his classmates.

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inferior in other languages

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