superintendent

The word “superintendent” means a person who supervises or manages an organisation, department, or building. In plain terms, someone in charge of overseeing an organisation, school district, building, or police unit.

“Superintendent” is pronounced syoo-puh-rihn-TEHN-duhnt (/ˌsjuːpəɹɪnˈtɛndənt/ in IPA).

Here is “superintendent” used in a sentence: “The school superintendent announced new budget cuts.”

Words with a similar meaning to “superintendent” include manager, foreman, chief, head, head man and controller.

“Superintendent” is a noun.

The word “superintendent” comes from Latin. From Ecclesiastical Latin superintendens, itself modelled on Greek episkopos — the same root that eventually gives English "bishop".

“Superintendent” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

“Superintendent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person who supervises or manages an organisation, department, or building.

Both oversee people or work, but a "superintendent" usually holds a higher, more managerial position with responsibility for an entire organisation, department, or building. A "supervisor" typically oversees a smaller team or a specific task and often reports to more senior managers.

A "janitor" or "custodian" mainly cleans and carries out basic maintenance, while a building "superintendent" manages the property more broadly, overseeing repairs, staff, and tenants' issues. The superintendent supervises the work and may direct custodial staff.

In UK-style police forces, "superintendent" is a senior rank above chief inspector and below chief superintendent. Officers at this level typically oversee larger operations or a policing area rather than day-to-day frontline duties.