noun
Uncommon
superhero
SOOP-hih-roh
Superhero (noun) means a fictional character with extraordinary powers who fights crime or evil. Example: “Kids love dressing up as their favourite superhero for Halloween.”
noun
1
A fictional character with extraordinary powers who fights crime or evil.
"Kids love dressing up as their favourite superhero for Halloween."
"The film's superhero can fly and lift cars with one hand."
"My little cousin wore a cape because he wanted to be a superhero."
2
A person greatly admired for doing something impressive or heroic.
"Nurses were treated like superheroes during the pandemic."
"To the children, the lollipop lady was a real superhero."
"Our neighbour is a superhero for giving up her weekends to coach the team."
How to use superhero
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hero with special powers (in fiction), or anyone praised for extraordinary real-world actions.
Common pairings
superhero movie
superhero costume
real-life superhero
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Word forms
- Plural
- superheroes
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Kids love dressing up as their favourite _____ for Halloween.
Etymology
From super- + hero, first recorded around 1917, though the genre exploded with comic books from the 1930s onward.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for superhero
See all rhymes for superhero →Frequently asked questions
What does “superhero” mean?
The word “superhero” means a fictional character with extraordinary powers who fights crime or evil. In plain terms, a hero with special powers (in fiction), or anyone praised for extraordinary real-world actions.
How do you pronounce “superhero”?
“Superhero” is pronounced SOOP-hih-roh (/ˈs(j)upɚhɪɹoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “superhero” in a sentence?
Here is “superhero” used in a sentence: “Kids love dressing up as their favourite superhero for Halloween.”
What is the opposite of “superhero”?
The opposite of “superhero” — its antonyms — is supervillain.
What part of speech is “superhero”?
“Superhero” is a noun.
Where does the word “superhero” come from?
The word “superhero” dates back to around 1917. From super- + hero, first recorded around 1917, though the genre exploded with comic books from the 1930s onward.
Is “superhero” a common word?
“Superhero” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “superhero” have?
“Superhero” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fictional character with extraordinary powers who fights crime or evil.
What is the difference between a superhero and a supervillain?
A superhero is a fictional character with extraordinary powers who fights crime or evil, while a supervillain is the opposing figure who uses similar extraordinary abilities for wrongdoing. The two roles are typically defined in direct contrast to each other within a story.
Is "superhero" one word or two words?
"Superhero" is standardly written as a single word in modern English, without a space or hyphen. Older or stylistic usages occasionally hyphenate it as "super-hero," but the closed form is now the accepted standard.
What is the difference between a superhero and a hero?
A hero is simply someone admired for courage, noble acts, or accomplishments, without any requirement of special powers. A superhero is a specific type of hero, either fictional and endowed with extraordinary abilities, or, used loosely, a real person admired for doing something especially impressive.
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