Inferior Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of INFERIOR

1

:

of poor quality

:

low or lower in quality

• inferior goods/materials/products
• an inferior performer/performance
• These pearls are of inferior quality.

— often + to

• These pearls are inferior (in quality) to others I have seen.

2

:

of little or less importance or value

• They were considered a socially inferior group.
• He always felt inferior around his brother.

— often + to

• He always felt inferior to his brother.

3

:

low or lower in rank

• The judges voted to overturn a ruling made by an inferior court.

— inferiority

/ɪnˌfiriˈorəti/

noun

[noncount]

• the inferiority of the cheaper materials
• He had a sense of social inferiority among wealthy people.

Britannica Dictionary definition of INFERIOR

[count]

:

a person of low rank or status

• She treated her employees as social inferiors.