superficial
pronunciation
How to pronounce superficial in British English:
UK [ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃl]
How to pronounce superficial in American English:
US [ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃl]
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- Adjective:
- being or affecting or concerned with a surface; not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually
- relating to a surface
- of little substance or significance
- involving a surface only
Word Origin
- superficial
- superficial: [14] Superficial means literally ‘of the surface’. It comes from Latin superficiālis, a derivative of superficiēs ‘surface’. This was a compound noun formed from the prefix super- ‘above’ and faciēs ‘face’ (ancestor of English face). The main modern sense, ‘concerned only with outward appearances’, emerged in the 16th century.=> face, surface
- superficial (adj.)
- late 14c., in anatomical and mathematical uses, "of or relating to a surface," from Late Latin superficialis "of or pertaining to the surface," from superficies "surface, upper side, top," from super "above, over" (see super-) + facies "form, face" (see face (n.)). Meaning "not deep, without thorough understanding, cursory, comprehending only what is apparent or obvious" (of perceptions, thoughts, etc.) first recorded early 15c. (implied in superficially "not thoroughly").
Example
- 1. We cannot , except in superficial terms .
- 2. After preaching humility in foreign policy , he preferred unilateralism and superficial muscularity .
- 3. But that 's a superficial criticism .
- 4. Life felt somewhat superficial there .
- 5. This stance has a superficial logic .