superintendent

1 of 2

noun

su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent ˌsü-p(ə-)rin-ˈten-dənt 

ˌsü-pərn-

: one who has executive oversight and charge

superintendent

2 of 2

adjective

: having executive oversight and charge of something : of, relating to, or being a superintendent

superintendent [=supervising] powers

a superintendent officer

The wedding will take place three days after our return to England, by special license, at the office of the district superintendent registrar, in the presence of my solicitor and his clerk, who, like his clients, will be in ordinary walking dress.

—George Bernard Shaw

Synonyms of superintendent

Noun

• manager
• administrator
• executive
• director
• supervisor

Examples of superintendent in a Sentence

Noun

the office of the superintendent of parks issues camping permits

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Cleary, a construction superintendent at Tesla, turned on a metal detector and picked up a signal. —Jennifer Wilson, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

While 50 educators in Illinois hold the necessary World Language Arabic endorsement, only seven are currently teaching the subject, according to the superintendent’s statement. —Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026

Adjective

Shaw won an endorsement in April from the state GOP, while the state Democratic Party failed to reach consensus for endorsing any superintendent candidate at its spring convention in February. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Ferguson will remain on board as Prosper ISD’s leader until May, then transition into a superintendent emeritus role. —Silas Allen, Dallas Morning News, 10 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Medieval Latin superintendent-, superintendens, from Late Latin, present participle of superintendere

First Known Use

Noun

1554, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1566, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing superintendent

• sidewalk superintendent

Rhymes for superintendent

• interdependent
• appendant
• ascendant
• attendant
• defendant
• dependant
• dependent
• descendant
• descendent
• intendant
• resplendent
• transcendent

Kids Definition

superintendent

noun

su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent ˌsü-p(ə-)rin-ˈten-dənt 

ˌsü-pərn-

: a person who directs, manages, or maintains something

Legal Definition

superintendent

noun

su·​per·​in·​ten·​dent

: one who has the oversight and charge of a place, institution, department, organization, or operation

specifically : the executive head of a police department