superficial

[ soo-per-fish-uh l ]
/ ˌsu pərˈfɪʃ əl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR superficial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

Origin of superficial

1375–1425; late Middle English superfyciall < Late Latin superficiālis, equivalent to Latin superfici(ēs) superficies + -ālis -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM superficial

Words nearby superficial

superfamily, superfecta, superfecundation, superfemale, superfetation, superficial, superficial dorsal veins of clitoris, superficial dorsal veins of penis, superficial epigastric vein, superficial fascia, superficial fascia of perineum

Words related to superficial

slight, cursory, one-dimensional, perfunctory, sketchy, silly, trivial, frivolous, apparent, casual, cosmetic, desultory, empty, evident, exterior, external, flash, flimsy, general, glib

Example sentences from the Web for superficial

British Dictionary definitions for superficial

superficial
/ (ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, being near, or forming the surface superficial bruising
displaying a lack of thoroughness or care a superficial inspection
only outwardly apparent rather than genuine or actual the similarity was merely superficial
of little substance or significance; trivial superficial differences
lacking originality or profundity the film's plot was quite superficial
(of measurements) involving only the surface area

Derived forms of superficial

superficiality (ˌsuːpəˌfɪʃɪˈælɪtɪ) or rare superficialness, noun superficially, adverb

Word Origin for superficial

C14: from Late Latin superficiālis of the surface, from Latin superficies

Medical definitions for superficial

superficial
[ sōō′pər-fĭsh′əl ]

adj.

Of, affecting, or being on or near the surface.
Not thorough.