Skip to the word

Added 9 October 2026

inferior

/ɪnˈfɪə.ɹi.ə/ adjective

In Latin: secundārius Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about inferior at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Lower in rank, status, or quality.
Anna had always felt inferior to her brother due to poor school grades.
Of low rank, standard or quality.
an inferior officer
Susceptible to having its decisions overturned by a higher court.

noun

A person of lower rank, stature, or ability to another.
,
An inferior letter, figure, or symbol.

Origin

Borrowed from Latin īnferior (“lower in situation or place”), comparative of īnferus (“below, underneath”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word