superficial

adjective
UK: /ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl/
US: /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃəl/

  1. Not complete and involving only the most obvious things.

    1. The report offered a superficial analysis of the problem.
    2. The documentary offered only a superficial account of events leading up to the war, missing key details.

  2. Relating to the surface only.

    1. She has a superficial cut on her arm.
    2. After a superficial examination, the doctor assured him the injury was not serious.

  3. A person who is concerned only with what is on the surface or obvious: someone shallow.

    1. Many people thought she was superficial because she cared so much about her looks.
    2. He worried that he would be perceived as superficial if he admitted how much he valued designer clothes.

Synonyms

slight exterior cursory frivolous shallow

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "superficial" in English means: Not complete and involving only the most obvious things., Relating to the surface only., A person who is concerned only with what is on the surface or obvious: someone shallow..

The phonetic transcription of "superficial" is /ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃəl/ in British English and /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃəl/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "superficial": slight, exterior, cursory, frivolous, shallow.

Example usage of "superficial": "The report offered a superficial analysis of the problem.". More examples on the page.