You have likely come across the word “superficial” several times and in different contexts. But do you know the definition, meaning, or how to use it right in a sentence? Go ahead and add a new exciting vocabulary to your English by reading this article and learning more about the word “superficial.”
The word “superficial” is a noun and adjective. It means “concerned with or only comprehending what is outwardly and clear.” Use the word when referring to someone not concerned with something genuine or actual. Or when talking about something not deep or penetrating emotionally or intellectually.
Did you know that learning a new word does more than improve your vocabulary? Learning new words helps stretch your working memory and increases the ability to communicate efficiently with the world. With that in mind, this article will emphasize the initial meaning of “superficial” and everything in between.
What is the Definition of Superficial?
The word “superficial” means “affecting only the outer part of a surface or something,” or “relating to, being near, or forming the surface.”
The best way of using the word “superficial” is when talking about something or a shallow occurrence that did not have much impact. You can also use the word when talking about something obvious or apparent or not thoroughly done.
In some cases, the word superficial refers to the appearance and the surface. For example, if you only read a chapter of a book, your opinion will be superficial, unlike someone who has read it all.
Read the examples below to understand the word “superficial” better.
- John was lucky since he only got superficial wounds after the accident, but Jane broke her leg.
- The hurricane only caused superficial damage to the school.
In the first sentence, the word “superficial” is used to show that John’s injuries are not severe. The second example shows that despite the hurricane causing damage to the school, the damage was minor. In both these sentences, the word “superficial” shows that despite the situation being terrible, it was not severe.
Is Superficial A Negative Word?
Depending on how you use “superficial,” it can be negative. In some context, it could have a negative flavor. For instance, saying someone is “superficial” could mean “they are shallow” or “they care too little about meaningful things.”
This statement can be offensive, so it is essential to be careful when using “superficial” to talk about someone. In other forms, the word “superficial” can be an insult. However, that does not imply that the word is entirely negative. It only means that it might give a negative attitude in some context.
What Is The Meaning Of Superficial?
The word “superficial” also means “lack of originality or profundity.”
“Superficial” is used when something seems copied or does not have originality. You can use the word in cases where something is uninspired or can be predictable. Mostly in cases where a thing, situation, or person is an imitation.
The word “superficial” can also be used when abjectly submissive, where anything you do or say is subject to questioning. Such traits are seen mainly by servants or prisoners, especially those whose opinions don’t seem to matter to those around them.
Example sentences:
- The essay that Barry wrote was superficial.
- The workers seem very welcoming on a superficial level, but when you need a service, it can be hard to get them.
Words That Relate With Superficial
Some words are similar and related but come in different forms. When you learn the relationship between words, you will better understand their meaning. More so, you will know the best way to use the words in sentences.
If you do not take the time to learn, you are likely to get confused when using the word. The good thing is that everything is easy. Here is a look at the words that relate to “superficial.”
- Superficiality: “Superficiality” is a noun that means “lack of thoroughness.” Or a poor “depth of character “or” serious thought.” Example sentences below.
- The movie touches on the issues of poverty but only superficially.
- The discard and superficiality of the board might bring the business down.
- Non Superficial: Nonsuperficial is an adjective that means “not merely on the surface” or “not superficial.” The word is simply the opposite of superficial. Example sentences below.
- We will need to get non-superficial light for the event.
- To save your marriage, you need to be non-superficial about your feelings.
- Superficialism: “Superficialism” is an adjective that is used to mean “a person who never thinks of the importance of serious things.”Example sentences below.
- When asked how he feels about hunting, the response evidenced his superficialism.
- She always shows superficialism; that’s why she was late submitting her college application.
How to Use Superficial In a Sentence
The best way to learn how to use the word “superficial” is by looking at its synonyms and examples in the right context.
For many of us, the word superficial has a negative connotation. We think of shallow people or trivial matters. But there are some instances where it is an appropriate word to use in your sentences.
How can you use the word “superficial” correctly? Take a look at these examples for some ideas!
- I can’t believe how superficial our relationship has become.
- The company only cares about the superficial appearance of things and not what’s going on.
- Their argument was based on some minor, superficial issue.
- My knowledge of Japanese is very superficial. Well, it is because I have just started.
More so, let’s learn some of the words that have a similar meaning to “superficial.” Here is a list of words you can replace with “superficial” in sentences.
- Flimsy
- Shallow
- Sketchy
- One-dimensional
- Cursory
- Casual
- Cosmetic
- Uncritical
- Empty
- Depthless
- Ignorant
- General
10 Examples of Superficial in a Sentence
It might not seem like much work, but studying various sentences is the backbone of understanding multiple applications of words and phrases. Without sentences, then there would be complications and confusion, and that’s not what you want. Here are 10 examples of superficial sentences to guide you.
- The criminals gave several superficial reasons why they got into the life of crime.
- The workers never took the time to understand the new manager, and most accused her of being superficial.
- The doctor only has superficial knowledge about the condition.
- If you do not want to be accused of being superficial by your peers, you need to acquire fundamental skills.
- He accused the students of only seeing superficial things.
- She will acquiesce to the superficial demands for the team.
- The relationship did not last because both Steve and Ellen were superficial.
- They enjoy singing, but their performance is usually superficial.
- She’s extremely superficial but erudite in regard to fashion.
- One of the reasons that the voters did not vote for him was his superficial lack of care.
- Avoid investing in the stock market if the information you have is superficial.
- It is better to be alone with an ebullient personality than to have many superficial friends.
How Do You Spell Superficial?
The word “superficial” is spelled as su·per·fi·cial | su-pər-fi-shəl |.
Communication is now more on computers, laptops, and phones. Most of the time, people type out the information or message they want to pass across. That is why besides learning the meaning of a word, you also need to know how well to spell it. For example, learning the proper spelling of “superficial” will help people comprehend what you communicate.
How Do You Pronounce Superficial?
The word “superficial” is pronounced as soo-per-fish-ul.
Learning pronunciation is essential, and it can also help you learn English with ease. If you are interested in learning how to pronounce words well, be keen to listen when experts speak. People will understand you better if you have the correct pronunciation of words. It might not take several practices before learning the word, even if you have an accent.
How Many Syllables Are In Superficial?
The word “superficial” has four syllables. The four syllables are divided into “su-per-fi-cials.” The stressed syllable is “fi.”
Learning how to pronounce words begins with understanding the syllables and their respective sounds. That will also make it easy to communicate and guarantee confidence when talking.
History & Etymology of Superficial
The word “Superficial is derived from Latin “superficiālis,” meaning “belonging to the surface.”
The word “superficial” can also be traced to the Indo-European roots, which mean “as above or on.” During the 17th century, people used the word to refer to” someone who prioritizes irrelevant things.”
When was Superficial First Used?
It is unclear the exact time the word” superficial” was introduced to English, but the first known use was in the 15th century.
Conclusion
It does not take much to be a pro in English words. All you need is to take the time to learn new words like “superficial” and their meaning. Also, make sure that you exhaust the meanings of the particular word to have a comprehensive understanding and keep reading more. Now that you fully understand the meaning and etymology of the word “superficial,” it is time to practice. Happy learning!
Shawn Manaher is the founder and CEO of The Content Authority. He’s one part content manager, one part writing ninja organizer, and two parts leader of top content creators. You don’t even want to know what he calls pancakes.