supervision

noun

su·​per·​vi·​sion ˌsü-pər-ˈvi-zhən 

: the action, process, or occupation of supervising

especially : a critical watching and directing (as of activities or a course of action)

Synonyms

• care
• charge
• guidance
• headship
• oversight
• regulation
• stewardship
• superintendence
• superintendency
• surveillance

Examples of supervision in a Sentence

Young children need constant supervision.

She's responsible for the supervision of a large staff.

Recent Examples on the Web

In Dhamar, 4-year-old Adham (top photo) receives treatment from a mobile team operating under the supervision of the Health and Environment Office. —Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Home care nurse: Taking care of yourself or a family member with Huntington’s disease requires much supervision. —Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 27 Mar. 2025

But the patients who were reported to have toxicity were probably not taking the vitamin under the supervision of a physician, Johnson said. —Neha Mukherjee, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025

Elderly residents wandered off without supervision, medications weren’t properly administered, and emergency pull cords in some bedrooms didn’t work, the state alleged. —Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for supervision

• cablevision
• circumcision
• imprecision
• indecision
• subdivision
• television
• abscission
• collision
• decision
• derision
• division
• elision

Kids Definition

supervision

noun

su·​per·​vi·​sion ˌsü-pər-ˈvizh-ən 

: the act of supervising

especially : a critical watching and directing (as of activities)