superficial
adjective (FALSE APPEARANCE) /ˌsuː.pəˈfɪʃ.əl/
/-pɚ-/ Definition
› appearing to be real or important when this is not true or correct: There are superficial similarities between the two cars, but actually they're quite different in terms of performance.Seeming and purporting to beFaking and pretending superficiality /-ˌfɪʃ.iˈæl.ɪ.ti/
/-ˌfɪʃ.iˈæl.ə.t̬i/ noun [U] Not showing careful thoughtIncomplete superficially /-i/ adverb C2 The job I've been offered is superficially (= seems to be) attractive/appealing, but I think I might find it boring after a while. Religious education is poorly and superficially taught in most schools.IncompleteSeeming and purporting to beFaking and pretendingNot showing careful thought
/-ˌfɪʃ.iˈæl.ə.t̬i/ noun [U] Not showing careful thoughtIncomplete superficially /-i/ adverb C2 The job I've been offered is superficially (= seems to be) attractive/appealing, but I think I might find it boring after a while. Religious education is poorly and superficially taught in most schools.IncompleteSeeming and purporting to beFaking and pretendingNot showing careful thought(Definition of superficial adjective (FALSE APPEARANCE) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
Browse the Dictionary
Browse the Thesaurus
More Results for “superficial”
SMART Thesaurus
Synonyms and related words:
- apparent adjective
- appear verb (SEEM)
- as if/though idiom
- by the look(s) of things idiom
- come across phrasal verb (BEHAVE)
- come over phrasal verb (SEEM)
- formal adjective (OFFICIAL)
- on the face of it idiom
- ostensible adjective
- outward adjective (ON OUTSIDE)
- persona noun
- prima facie adjective
- seeming adjective
- seemingly adverb
- semblance noun
- so-called adjective
- supposed adjective (OTHERS' OPINION)
- supposedly adverb
- surface adjective (APPEARANCE)
- surface noun (APPEARANCE)
Topic:
Seeming and purporting to be
Word of the Day
ride (out) the storm
to manage not to be destroyed, harmed or permanently affected by the difficult situation you...
Blog
Read our blog about how the English language behaves.
New Words
Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.
