Is 'superficial' formal or informal?

What's the difference between 'superficial' and 'shallow'?

How is 'superficial' different from 'shallow'?

How do I use 'superficial' in a sentence?

Can 'superficial' describe people and topics?

Is 'superficial' used in business writing?

Is 'superficial' common in academic writing?

← Dictionary

superficial

/ˌsuːp.əˈfɪʃ.əl/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

1.
Not deep; limited to the surface or appearance without serious thought or feeling.
- He has a superficial smile but seems unhappy.
- The criticism was only superficial.
- She has a superficial knowledge of the topic.
2.
Concerned only with obvious or visible features, ignoring deeper qualities.
- Their friendship is superficial.
- The article only touched on superficial issues.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: 'superficial' is less intense than 'shallow' and more observational; it suits surface traits or comments rather than deep character judgments. Unlike 'cosmetic', it criticizes lack of depth, not just appearance focus. Writers choose it when describing brief, surface-level attention or judgments.

In other languages

Spanish: Superficial
Japanese: 表面的な
Korean: 표면적인
Vietnamese: bề ngoài
Chinese: 表面的

Etymology

From Latin superficialis, from superfacere ‘to cover over’, emphasizing surface-only treatment.

Common phrases

on a superficial levelsuperficial woundsuperficial charmappear superficial

Synonyms

surface-level skin-deep outward external facetious

Frequently asked questions

Is 'superficial' formal or informal?: Is 'superficial' formal or informal?
What's the difference between 'superficial' and 'shallow'?: How is 'superficial' different from 'shallow'?
How do I use 'superficial' in a sentence?: Can 'superficial' describe people and topics?
Is 'superficial' used in business writing?: Is 'superficial' common in academic writing?