superficial

CEFRB2

/ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Existing on the surface or lacking depth.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Appearing to be true or real only until examined more closely.

Examples

  • He has only a superficial knowledge of the matter.

  • He has only a superficial knowledge of the subject.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • [ˌsʊu̯pəˈfɪʃəl] ~ [ˌsʊu̯pəˈfɪʃl̩]
  • /ˌsupɚˈfɪʃəl/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Existing, occurring, or located on the surface.

  2. Not thorough, deep, or complete; concerned only with the obvious or apparent.

  3. Close to the surface of the body; especially, situated or occurring on the skin or immediately beneath it.

More examples

In context

  • The epidermis is superficial to the subcutis.

  • one superficial foot

  • superficial muscles

Synonyms

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The doctor said the wound was only blank, affecting just the top layer of skin.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

Borrowing from Late Latin superficiālis (“of or belonging to the surface”), from superficiēs (“top, surface”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).