noun

superintendent

soo-per-in-TEN-dunt/ˌsuːpərɪnˈtendənt/

Someone responsible for supervising an operation.

The building superintendent checks the boiler room with a clipboard.

A Latino building superintendent checks a boiler room with keys and clipboard.

Etymology

superLatinabove, over

+inLatintoward

+tendentLatinto stretch

“Stretching toward” became directing one's attention; adding “above” gives the image of overseeing. Originally a church supervisor, a superintendent came to be anyone in charge of an operation.

In context

Texas Public Policy Foundation38:27

over Fort Worth and a lot of other districts and and General Miles is the one running that in the Houston and his program. And he he was actually the superintendent of Dallas School District

Digging into Texas' $338 Billion Budget w/ Comptroller Don Huffines | Sherry Sylvester Show

More examples

The school superintendent presents the district's budget to the board.
A construction superintendent coordinates the crews at the site.
Tenants call the superintendent when the heat stops working.

Forms

superintendent · superintendents

superintend verb — To oversee and direct an operation.

Similar words

supervisor: Usually oversees workers directly rather than managing an entire operation.
manager: Covers a wider range of business and organizational leadership roles.