Superficial Meaning
/ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjExisting, occurring, or located on the surface.
adjExisting, occurring, or located on the surface., Close to the surface of the body; especially, situated or occurring on the skin or immediately beneath it.
Sentence Examples
He has only a superficial knowledge of the subject.
He has only a superficial knowledge of the matter.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor said the wound was only ____, affecting just the top layer of skin.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The damage to the car was only ____, but he decided to take it to the mechanic anyway just to be safe today.
Word Origin & History
Borrowing from Late Latin superficiālis (“of or belonging to the surface”), from superficiēs (“top, surface”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The superficial fascia surrounds the body and includes subcutaneous fat; the deep fascia surrounds the musculoskeletal system; the meningeal fascia surrounds the nervous system; the visceral fascia surrounds body cavities and organs."
— 2018 November 8, Dr. Melina Jampolis, “The real science behind fascia ailments”, in CNN:
"Secondly, I continue to base my concepts on intensive study of a limited suite of collections, rather than superficial study of every packet that comes to hand."
— 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii:
"These infamous little green men appeared during the decisive seizures or buildings and facilities, only to disappear when associated militias and local troops arrived to consolidate the gains. In this way they provided a measure of deniability—however superficial or implausible—for Moscow.⁴⁰"
— 2014, "Little Green Men": A Primer on Modern Russian Unconventional Warfare, Ukraine 2013–2014, Fort Bragg, North Carolina: The United States Army Special Operations Command, page 43:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The doctor said the wound was only ____, affecting just the top layer of skin.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The damage to the car was only ____, but he decided to take it to the mechanic anyway just to be safe today.