Inferior

Pronunciation

• enPR: Ä­nfîrÄ“É™r, IPA: /ɪnˈfɪ(É™)ɹiÉš/
• Rhymes: -ɪəriÉ™(r)

Alternative forms

• inferiour obsolete

Origin

Borrowed from Latin Ä«nferior ("lower, inferior"), the comparative of Ä«nferus ("low, nether, underground").

Full definition of inferior

Adjective

1. of lower qualityAnna had always felt inferior to her brother due to poor school grades.
• DrydenWhether they are equal or inferior to my other poems, an author is the most improper judge.
2. of lower rankan inferior officer
3. located below
1. (typography) Printed in subscript.an inferior figure or letter
4. (botany) Situated below some other organ; said of a calyx when free from the ovary, and therefore below it, or of an ovary with an adherent and therefore inferior calyx.
5. (botany) On the side of a flower which is next to the bract; anterior.
6. (astronomy) Nearer to the Sun than the Earth is.the inferior or interior planets; an inferior conjunction of Mercury or Venus
7. (astronomy) Below the horizon.the inferior part of a meridian

Usage notes

Inferior and superior are generally followed by to; than is seen sometimes, but is viewed as wrong.

Synonyms

Antonyms

• superior

Coordinate terms

Related terms

• inferiority

Noun

1. a person of lower stature to anotherAs you are my inferior, I can tell you to do anything I want.

Antonyms

• superior

Anagrams

• fire iron