Superficiality
/ˌsuːpərfɪˈʃælɪti/
nounC1noun form (abstract noun)
Definition
Superficiality is the quality of being shallow or only concerned with what is easy to see or understand on the outside. It often means not looking deeper into feelings, ideas, or the true nature of things. People or things described as superficial may seem simple or not serious.
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See It in Action
The state of being shallow or only on the surface
- •His superficiality made it hard to have a serious conversation with him.
- •The movie was criticized for its superficiality because it only showed pretty pictures without meaning.
- •She felt the friendship was full of superficiality, with no real connection.
A lack of depth in understanding or feeling
- •Superficiality in news reports can lead to misunderstanding important issues.
- •The superficiality of his knowledge showed when he couldn't answer detailed questions.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'superficiality' like 'surface' (A1 word), but as a quality of only caring about that top layer, not what is inside or deeper
- ✓Picture a calm lake where you only see the clear water surface but do not look below to the fish or plants underneath
- ✓It's the feeling when someone talks only about looks or simple facts, not about real thoughts or emotions
- ✓Sounds like 'super-FISH-ality' → imagine a fish swimming only at the water surface, never diving deep
- ✓Think of a person who judges others by their clothes or appearance but does not know their real personality
- ✓NOT like 'deep' (which means serious or thoughtful), superficiality is the opposite: shallow and simple
- ✓NOT like 'complex' or 'detailed'—superficiality means ignoring complexity or important details
- ✓NOT like 'honest' or 'true'—sometimes superficiality hides the real truth under a nice surface
Try Other Words
- •Shallowness: lack of depth physically or mentally (Use when talking about physical depth or simple thinking)
- •Surface-level: only on the outside, not deep (Use in informal contexts to describe simple or basic understanding)
- •Frivolity: lack of seriousness (Use when the focus is on not being serious rather than just shallow)
- •Triviality: something unimportant or small (Use when emphasizing something is not important)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: 'super-' (above, over) + 'ficial' (from Latin 'facies' meaning face or surface) + suffix '-ity' (makes noun of quality or state)
- •Etymology: From Latin roots meaning 'above the face' or 'on the surface,' describing something only on the outside
- •Historical development: Used since the 17th century to describe things or people concerned only with surface or appearance
- •Modern usage: Often used in social, emotional, or intellectual contexts to criticize lack of depth or seriousness
Reflect & Connect
•How can superficiality affect relationships between people?
•Can something that seems superficial at first become meaningful if you look deeper? How?
Fill in the blanks
1.People show superficiality when they focus only on ___ and ignore real feelings or ideas.
2.The superficiality of the report made it hard to understand the ___ behind the problem.
3.Unlike deep conversations, superficiality often involves talking about ___ things like weather or clothes.
4.When someone acts with superficiality, they usually do not ___ about others' true thoughts.
5.The movie was full of superficiality, showing beautiful scenes but ___ a strong story.
6.Superficiality is ___ like being on the surface of water, not diving into what is below.
7.Journalists should avoid superficiality and try to ___ important facts clearly.