Inferior
/ɪnˈfɪriər/
adjectivenounB2
Definition
Inferior describes something or someone that is not as good, strong, or important as another. It often shows a comparison where one thing is below another in quality, rank, or value. It can also be used as a noun to talk about a person who is seen as lower in rank or quality.
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See It in Action
Lower in quality, value, or rank (adjective)
- •The shoes were made from inferior materials and wore out quickly.
- •He felt inferior to his older brother because of his grades.
- •This product is inferior compared to the more expensive one.
A person who is lower in rank or status (noun)
- •In the old company system, inferiors had to follow strict rules set by their bosses.
- •The leader treated his inferiors unfairly.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "inferior" like "bad," but it is more about being lower or less good compared to something else, not just simply bad.
- ✓Picture a small, weak tree next to a tall, strong tree — the small tree is inferior because it is less strong and smaller.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you try your best but see someone else doing better or having better things.
- ✓Sounds like "in-FEER-ee-er" → imagine someone saying "in fear" because they feel less or lower than others.
- ✓Remember stories where a character feels inferior because they are not as skilled or important as others, like a student feeling less smart than classmates.
- ✓NOT like "poor" (which means having little money or bad quality); "inferior" is about comparison, not just being bad or poor.
- ✓NOT like "less" (which only means smaller amount); "inferior" means worse or lower in quality or rank.
- ✓NOT like "superior" (which means better or higher); "inferior" is the opposite, meaning lower or worse.
- ✓NOT always negative — sometimes it just means lower in place or rank, not always bad quality.
Try Other Words
- •Lower quality: meaning not as good (Use when you want to explain simply that something is not as good)
- •Less good: meaning not as good in value or quality (Use in casual conversation)
- •Second-rate: meaning not as good as the best (Use when something is clearly below the best level)
- •Subordinate: meaning lower in rank or position (Use for people or jobs in a hierarchy)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "in-" meaning "not" or "below"
- •Root: "ferior" from Latin "inferus," meaning "low" or "below"
- •Etymology: Comes from Latin "inferior," meaning "lower" or "below"
- •Historical development: Used since the 1400s in English to describe something lower in place or rank
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe quality, rank, or position that is lower or less good than another
Reflect & Connect
•How do feelings of being inferior affect the way people behave or think about themselves?
•Can something be inferior in one way but still valuable or important in another way?
Fill in the blanks
1.The new phone was considered inferior because it had ___ features and slower speed.
2.She felt inferior ___ her classmates after failing the test.
3.Unlike "superior," inferior means ___ or lower in quality or rank.
4.When someone says "inferior to," it means one thing is not as ___ as another.
5.In a company, a manager has authority over their ___ employees.
6.The material used was inferior, so the product did not ___ well over time.
7.People sometimes feel inferior when they compare themselves to others who are ___ or more successful.