supervisor

/ˌsuːpərˈvaɪzər/
person who oversees workers

The supervisor ensures all employees follow safety protocols.

A supervisor monitors and guides workers to maintain standards.


Business
formal

A person who oversees and directs the work of others, typically in a workplace setting.

The factory supervisor checks the quality of products before they are shipped.

A supervisor in a factory inspects goods to ensure they meet standards.

Supervisors often have authority to assign tasks and provide feedback.

general

A person responsible for monitoring and guiding the activities of a group or project.

The research supervisor helps students with their thesis projects.

A supervisor in academia assists students with their research.

This role can vary widely depending on the industry or organization.

Collocations

supervisor trainingprograms to prepare supervisors for their rolesupervisor dutiestasks and responsibilities of a supervisorsupervisor feedbackevaluation or guidance provided by a supervisor

Related Phrases

superviseverb
to oversee or direct someone's work
supervisionnoun
the act of overseeing or managing

Pro Tip

Formal vs. Informal Use

In formal settings, 'supervisor' is preferred over 'boss' or 'manager' when referring to someone who oversees workers.

Gold Rule

Authority vs. Leadership

A supervisor has authority over workers, but effective leadership requires trust and communication.

Word Origin

From Middle French 'superviseur', from Latin 'supervisus', past participle of 'supervidere' (to oversee).

Usage Notes

The term is commonly used in business and organizational contexts. In some cases, 'supervisor' may be used interchangeably with 'manager', though the latter often implies a higher level of authority.

Word Breakdown

super
over
prefix
+
visor
to see
root
English Dictionary