noun
Common
superman
SOO-puh-man
Superman (noun) means a man with extraordinary or seemingly superhuman abilities. Example: “Nobody expects you to be a superman and finish all of this alone.”
noun
1
A man with extraordinary or seemingly superhuman abilities.
"Nobody expects you to be a superman and finish all of this alone."
"The coach seemed like a superman, lifting weights twice his size without effort."
"He's no superman — he needs help just like everyone else."
"I had a vision of what the ideal man should be. I wanted someone whose income combined with mine could afford us a family, an apartment, a car, and all the travel, luxury, and fun we could possibly tolerate. I wanted a Superman."
— Alex Echevarria Roman (2010)
2
An idealised, more highly evolved type of human being, as described in philosophy.
"The philosopher argued that the superman would rise above the values of ordinary society."
"In the essay, the superman stands for a future humanity that has outgrown old beliefs."
"Nietzsche's concept of the superman describes a person who creates their own values."
How to use superman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA man of extraordinary powers or abilities, whether in philosophy, everyday speech, or comic books.
Common pairings
like a superman
superman complex
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Word forms
- Plural
- supermen
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Nobody expects you to be a _____ and finish all of this alone.
Etymology
A calque (loan translation) of the German Übermensch, coined by philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883); the English "superman" was popularised by George Bernard Shaw in 1903 and later reinforced by the DC Comics character, who debuted in 1938.
Class of 1883
superman joined the language around 1883.
See the full Class of 1883 →
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for superman
See all rhymes for superman →Frequently asked questions
What does “superman” mean?
The word “superman” means a man with extraordinary or seemingly superhuman abilities. In plain terms, a man of extraordinary powers or abilities, whether in philosophy, everyday speech, or comic books.
How do you pronounce “superman”?
“Superman” is pronounced SOO-puh-man (/ˈsupɚmæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “superman” in a sentence?
Here is “superman” used in a sentence: “He's no superman — he needs help just like everyone else.”
What is the opposite of “superman”?
The opposite of “superman” — its antonyms — is netherman.
What part of speech is “superman”?
“Superman” is a noun.
Where does the word “superman” come from?
The word “superman” dates back to around 1883 and comes from German.
Is “superman” a common word?
“Superman” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “superman” have?
“Superman” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a man with extraordinary or seemingly superhuman abilities.
Should superman be capitalised?
Capitalise Superman when referring to the comic-book superhero, because it is a proper name. Use lowercase superman for the general sense of a man with extraordinary or seemingly superhuman abilities, as in "he worked like a superman to meet the deadline".
What is the superman in philosophy?
In philosophy, the superman is an idealised, more highly evolved type of human being that humanity might aspire to become. The term is the traditional English translation of the German Übermensch, a concept associated with the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, and is also rendered as overman.
What is the difference between superman and superhuman?
Superhuman is chiefly an adjective describing abilities beyond normal human limits, as in superhuman strength. Superman is a noun for a man who possesses such abilities. As a noun, superhuman also works as a gender-neutral alternative.
