noun

superstructure

SOO-per-struk-cher

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Superstructure (noun) means the parts of a ship built above its main deck, such as cabins, the bridge and funnels. Example: “The ship's superstructure housed the bridge and the officers' cabins.”

noun

The parts of a ship built above its main deck, such as cabins, the bridge and funnels.

"The ship's superstructure housed the bridge and the officers' cabins."

"Storm damage tore part of the superstructure away from the deck."

"Modern cruise liners have much taller superstructures than older ships."

A structure built on top of a foundation or an existing base.

"Engineers checked that the foundation could support the new superstructure."

"The bridge's superstructure rests on concrete piers sunk into the riverbed."

formal In Marxist theory, the beliefs, institutions and culture that are shaped by a society's economic base.

"Marxists argue that law and religion form part of the superstructure."

"Changes to the economic base can, in this view, eventually reshape the superstructure."

How to use superstructure

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA superstructure is whatever is built on top of a base, whether that's part of a ship, a building, or, in Marxist theory, a society's culture and institutions.

When to use it

Superstructure is a technical or academic word, used in engineering, shipping and social theory rather than everyday speech.

Memory tip

Think of 'super-' as meaning 'above', so a superstructure sits above its foundation.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

infrastructure → substructure →

Common pairings

ship's superstructure economic base and superstructure support the superstructure towering superstructure

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