superintendent

1 of 2

noun

su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent ˌsü-p(ə-)rin-ˈten-dənt 

ˌsü-pərn-

: one who has executive oversight and charge

superintendent

2 of 2

adjective

: having executive oversight and charge of something : of, relating to, or being a superintendent

superintendent [=supervising] powers

a superintendent officer

The wedding will take place three days after our return to England, by special license, at the office of the district superintendent registrar, in the presence of my solicitor and his clerk, who, like his clients, will be in ordinary walking dress.

—George Bernard Shaw

Synonyms

Noun

• administrant
• administrator
• archon
• director
• exec
• executive
• manager
• supervisor

Examples of superintendent in a Sentence

Noun

the office of the superintendent of parks issues camping permits

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Her mother had taught for decades in the now-defunct school, and her father had served as superintendent. —Caleb Gayle, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024

The 2025 national superintendent of the year will be announced during AASA's National Conference on Education March 6-8 in New Orleans. —Nwa Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 16 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Lebanon Special School District, located in Wilson County with around 4,000 students, ranked last with a superintendent salary of roughly $57,000. —Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2024

The superintendent race will be a close one, and a new leader is guaranteed. —Alexandria Sands, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Medieval Latin superintendent-, superintendens, from Late Latin, present participle of superintendere

First Known Use

Noun

1554, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1566, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing superintendent

• sidewalk superintendent

Kids Definition

superintendent

noun

su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent ˌsü-p(ə-)rin-ˈten-dənt 

ˌsü-pərn-

: a person who directs, manages, or maintains something

Legal Definition

superintendent

noun

su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent

: one who has the oversight and charge of a place, institution, department, organization, or operation

specifically : the executive head of a police department