su·per·in·ten·dent
ˌsü-p(ə-)rin-ˈten-dənt 
ˌsü-pərn-
: one who has executive oversight and charge
: having executive oversight and charge of something : of, relating to, or being a superintendent
superintendent [=supervising] powers
a superintendent officer
The wedding will take place three days after our return to England, by special license, at the office of the district superintendent registrar, in the presence of my solicitor and his clerk, who, like his clients, will be in ordinary walking dress.—
George Bernard Shaw
George Bernard Shaw
Synonyms
Examples of superintendent in a Sentence
Noun
the office of the superintendent of parks issues camping permits
Recent Examples on the WebJordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
When spring break is complete, Fairland West Elementary students will be temporarily moved to other buildings to allow time to clean up and repair the school, the superintendent said.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
There were other idiosyncrasies in Cunningham’s comportment as assistant superintendent.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
The Bald Knob School Board has hired the principal of Prairie Grove High School as its new superintendent.
—Danny Shameer, arkansasonline.com, 2 Apr. 2024
With multiple candidates who have previously held public office — including one who was ousted last year from his position as a school superintendent in North Idaho — the Republican primary race for commissioner from southern Ada County will be one to watch this May.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2024
Hanning, known as the Lemon Grove School District’s first female principal and district superintendent in the 1970s, will look back at the school district and discuss the changes from the mid-1970s to the 21st century.
—The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024
Darrell Sneed, a retired superintendent and former MISD board member, was one of those who spoke at the meeting.
—Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2024
Some superintendents believe the Legislature should give a base amount to each district to level the playing field.
—Becca Savransky, ProPublica, 22 Mar. 2024
The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024
Mijares was appointed superintendent in 2012 and ran uncontested for the superintendent seat in 2014 and 2018.
—Jon Fleischman, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2024
The firm previously received about 70 applications for any superintendent position but is now seeing about 30 to 35.
—Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 2 June 2023
The board and education department hired a search firm, Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, to find superintendent candidates.
—Lilly Price, Baltimore Sun, 16 Jan. 2024
Cato, a longtime CPD supervisor on the West Side, was a finalist for the superintendent job in 2020 and abruptly retired from the department last year.
—Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2023
Each time, a leader stayed for only a few years before retiring and ceding the superintendent role to the next gubernatorial appointee down the ladder — a revolving door that critics say can limit the internal appetite for innovation within the sprawling yet also insular 2,800-person organization.
—Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Feb. 2023
Herring served as superintendent from 2017 to 2020 before taking the superintendent position in Atlanta Public Schools.
—Savannah Tryens-Fernandes | Stryens-Fernandes@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2023
Dean has been superintendent since 2021, and previously worked as a deputy superintendent for the district starting in 2012.
—Detroit Free Press, 24 Aug. 2023
Noun
Terry spent most of his working days as a superintendent of a St. Louis school district.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
When spring break is complete, Fairland West Elementary students will be temporarily moved to other buildings to allow time to clean up and repair the school, the superintendent said.
—Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
There were other idiosyncrasies in Cunningham’s comportment as assistant superintendent.
—Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
The Bald Knob School Board has hired the principal of Prairie Grove High School as its new superintendent.
—Danny Shameer, arkansasonline.com, 2 Apr. 2024
With multiple candidates who have previously held public office — including one who was ousted last year from his position as a school superintendent in North Idaho — the Republican primary race for commissioner from southern Ada County will be one to watch this May.
—Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2024
Hanning, known as the Lemon Grove School District’s first female principal and district superintendent in the 1970s, will look back at the school district and discuss the changes from the mid-1970s to the 21st century.
—The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Apr. 2024
Darrell Sneed, a retired superintendent and former MISD board member, was one of those who spoke at the meeting.
—Noah Alcala Bach, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2024
Some superintendents believe the Legislature should give a base amount to each district to level the playing field.
—Becca Savransky, ProPublica, 22 Mar. 2024
Adjective
This includes superintendent selection, which must be public, transparent and follow education guidelines.
—The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Feb. 2024
Mijares was appointed superintendent in 2012 and ran uncontested for the superintendent seat in 2014 and 2018.
—Jon Fleischman, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2024
The firm previously received about 70 applications for any superintendent position but is now seeing about 30 to 35.
—Karina Elwood, Washington Post, 2 June 2023
The board and education department hired a search firm, Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates, to find superintendent candidates.
—Lilly Price, Baltimore Sun, 16 Jan. 2024
Cato, a longtime CPD supervisor on the West Side, was a finalist for the superintendent job in 2020 and abruptly retired from the department last year.
—Gregory Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2023
Each time, a leader stayed for only a few years before retiring and ceding the superintendent role to the next gubernatorial appointee down the ladder — a revolving door that critics say can limit the internal appetite for innovation within the sprawling yet also insular 2,800-person organization.
—Matt Stout, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Feb. 2023
Herring served as superintendent from 2017 to 2020 before taking the superintendent position in Atlanta Public Schools.
—Savannah Tryens-Fernandes | Stryens-Fernandes@al.com, al, 14 Sep. 2023
Dean has been superintendent since 2021, and previously worked as a deputy superintendent for the district starting in 2012.
—Detroit Free Press, 24 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'superintendent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing superintendent
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Cite this Entry
“Superintendent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superintendent. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
superintendent
noun
su·per·in·ten·dent
ˌsü-p(ə-)rin-ˈten-dənt
ˌsü-pərn-
: a person who directs, manages, or maintains something
Legal Definition
superintendent
noun
su·per·in·ten·dent
: one who has the oversight and charge of a place, institution, department, organization, or operation
specifically
: the executive head of a police department
More from Merriam-Webster on superintendent
Nglish: Translation of superintendent for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of superintendent for Arabic Speakers
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