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

Noun

• administrant
• administrator
• archon
• director
• exec
• executive
• manager
• supervisor

Examples of superintendent in a Sentence

Noun

the office of the superintendent of parks issues camping permits

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

John Leland, the Solana Beach School District’s assistant superintendent of administrative operations, was recently honored with the Association of California School Administrators Region 18 Technology Administrator of the Year award. —Del Mar Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025

Newsweek has contacted the Baltimore County Public Schools superintendent and Maryland state Department of Education for further comment. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 10 Feb. 2025

Adjective

The search for a new superintendent has been undertaken by Ray and Associates, which solicited applications for the superintendent role until March 29 after developing a community profile based on a online survey and 11 stakeholder meetings. —Graham P. Johnson, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025

Lebanon Special School District, located in Wilson County with around 4,000 students, ranked last with a superintendent salary of roughly $57,000. —Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 25 Sep. 2024

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

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