劣等の定義と意味 | Dictionary.com

INFERIOR Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com Synonyms inferior American [in- feer -ee-er] / ɪnˈfɪər i ər / adjective lower in station, rank, degree, or grade (often followed by to ). a rank inferior to colonel. lower in place or position; closer to the bottom or base. descending into the inferior regions of the earth. of comparatively low grade; poor in quality; substandard . an inferior product. Synonyms: second-rate , low-quality , mediocre less important, valuable, or worthy. B+ bonds are inferior to AAA bonds. acting or performing in a way that is comparatively poor or mediocre. an inferior observer of human nature. Botany. situated below some other organ. (of a calyx) inserted below the ovary. (of an ovary) having a superior calyx. Anatomy. (of an organ or part) lower in place or position; situated beneath another. toward the feet. Astronomy. lying below the horizon. the inferior part of a meridian. Printing. written or printed low on a line of text, as the “2” in H 2 O; subscript. noun a person inferior to another or others, as in rank or merit. Also called subscript . Printing. a letter, number, or symbol written or printed low on a line of text. inferior British / ɪnˈfɪərɪə, ɪnˌfɪərɪˈɒrɪtɪ / adjective lower in value or quality lower in rank, position, or status; subordinate not of the best; mediocre; commonplace lower in position; situated beneath (of a plant ovary) enclosed by and fused with the receptacle so that it is situated below the other floral parts astronomy orbiting or occurring between the sun and the earth an inferior planet inferior conjunction lying below the horizon printing (of a character) printed at the foot of an ordinary character, as the 2 in H 2 O "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 noun an inferior person printing an inferior character "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Usage What does inferior mean? Inferior most commonly means lesser or lower in quality or worth. Inferior is commonly applied to things that are considered not as good as other similar things, especially products. However, inferior is also used to describe how some people are treated as lesser than others. In both cases, it is the opposite of superior , meaning better. Inferior is also used in more specific ways in sciences like anatomy, botany, and astronomy to describe a low position. Example: The new, more expensive model is inferior to the old model in every way—even the packaging is not as good. Other Word Forms inferiority noun inferiorly adverb quasi-inferior adjective subinferior adjective Etymology Origin of inferior First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin, equivalent to infer(us) “lower” ( cf. under ) + -ior comparative suffix Explanation You might call something inferior if its quality isn't as good as another, comparable thing, like that kite that you can't get to fly no matter how fast you run back and forth while your friend's kite soars overhead. Besides "lower in quality," another meaning of the adjective inferior is "lower in rank or status," the way a corporal is inferior to a general in the Army. The word inferior can also be used as a noun to mean "a person who is lower in rank or status," in which case you might say to your younger brother, "You are my inferior , therefore you should take out the trash." Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com Vocabulary lists containing inferior In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide! List 8 Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use! Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time! Example Sentences Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com. Yet well into the 20th century, both pagan and Christian Celtic abstraction was considered to be merely decorative and inferior to classical representation. From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2026 Navy, which wanted the best and thus had no interest in Dreyer’s inferior system, funneled information about the Pollen-Isherwood system to an American startup. From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026 "Forcing council staff on to inferior pensions would leave retired workers poorer and worsen an already severe recruitment crisis for local government," he said. From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026 And by any yardstick, from infant mortality to life expectancy, America occupies the cellar among peer countries, including several that many would consider to be inferior. From MarketWatch • Jan. 26, 2026 There were also three magic spindles, made out of the Eden tree, and two inferior swords for Percy and Bon. From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White Related Words indifferent lousy mediocre substandard Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023 Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.