DictionarysuperiorBetter quality or ability
adjective / noun

superior

Located at a higher position.

The diagram shows the heart superior to the stomach.

Etymology

The Latin comparative means higher. Anatomy and other spatial uses preserve that literal relation of one position above another.

More examples

  • The nose is superior to the mouth.
  • The surgeon examines the superior edge of the incision.
  • The scan reveals a small fracture near the superior rim.

Forms

superior

Similar words

higher
Higher is the everyday term for greater vertical position.
upper
Upper usually describes the top part, rather than relative position.