inferior

UK: /ɪnˈfɪəriə^r/ US: /ɪnˈfɪriɚ/ ,(in fēr′ē ər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•fe•ri•or /ɪnˈfɪriɚ/   adj. 

1. low or lower in rank, degree, or position:
   felt inferior to his co-workers.
2. low or lower in place or position:
   the inferior regions of the earth.
3. of low grade or worse condition; poor in quality:
   That inferior product ranked well below the others.

n. [countable]

4. a person inferior to another or others, as in rank or merit:
   His inferiors treated him as badly as his superiors did.

in•fe•ri•or•i•ty /ɪnˌfɪriˈɔrɪti, -ˈɑr-/  n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•fe•ri•or  (in fēr′ē ər), adj. 

1. lower in station, rank, degree, or grade (often fol. by to):
   a rank inferior to colonel.
2. lower in place or position; closer to the bottom or base:
   descending into the inferior regions of the earth.
3. of comparatively low grade;
   poor in quality;
   substandard:
   an inferior product.
4. less important, valuable, or worthy:
   B+ bonds are inferior to AAA bonds.
5. acting or performing in a way that is comparatively poor or mediocre:
   an inferior observer of human nature.
6. Botany
   • situated below some other organ.
   • (of a calyx) inserted below the ovary.
   • (of an ovary) having a superior calyx.
7. Anatomy (of an organ or part)
   • lower in place or position;
     situated beneath another.
   • toward the feet. Cf. superior (def. 9).
8. Astronomy lying below the horizon:
   the inferior part of a meridian.
9. Printing written or printed low on a line of text, as the "2'' in H₂O;
   subscript. Cf. superior (def. 10).

n. 

10. a person inferior to another or others, as in rank or merit.
11. Printing Also called subscript. a letter, number, or symbol written or printed low on a line of text. Cf. superior (def. 12).

• Latin, equivalent. to infer(us) lower (compare under) + -ior comparative suffix
• late Middle English 1400–50

in•fe•ri•or•i•ty  (in fēr′ē ôr′i tē, -or′-), n.  in•fe′ri•or•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 3. mediocre, low-quality, second-rate.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

inferior / ɪnˈfɪərɪə/ adjective

1. lower in value or quality
2. lower in rank, position, or status; subordinate
3. not of the best; mediocre; commonplace
4. lower in position; situated beneath
5. (of a plant ovary) enclosed by and fused with the receptacle so that it is situated below the other floral parts
6. orbiting or occurring between the sun and the earth: an inferior planet, inferior conjunction
7. lying below the horizon
8. (of a character) printed at the foot of an ordinary character, as the 2 in H₂O

noun

1. an inferior person
2. an inferior character

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin: lower, from inferus low

inferiority / ɪnˌfɪərɪˈɒrɪtɪ/ noun

inˈferiorly adverb