What does inferiority mean?

Definitions for inferiority
in·fe·ri·or·i·ty

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word inferiority.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. inferiority, lower status, lower ranknoun

    the state of being inferior

  2. inferiority, low qualitynoun

    an inferior quality

  3. inferiority, unfavorable positionnoun

    the quality of being a competitive disadvantage

Wiktionary

  1. inferioritynoun

    The quality or state of being inferior.

  2. inferioritynoun

    An inferior quality.

  3. inferioritynoun

    The quality of being a competitive disadvantage.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Inferioritynoun

    Lower state of dignity or value.

    Etymology: inferiorité, Fr. from inferiour.

    The language, though not of equal dignity, yet as near approaching to it as our modern barbarism will allow; and therefore we are to rest contented with that only inferiority which is not possibly to be remedied. Dryden.

Wikipedia

  1. inferiority

    In psychology, an inferiority complex is an intense personal feeling of inadequacy, often resulting in the belief that one is in some way deficient, or inferior, to others.According to Alfred Adler, a feeling of inferiority may be brought about by upbringing as a child (for example, being consistently compared unfavorably to a sibling), physical and mental limitations, or experiences of lower social status (for example, being treated unfavorably by one's peers).An inferiority complex may cause an individual to overcompensate in a number of ways. For example, a person who feels inferior because they are shorter than average (also known as a Napoleon complex) due to common day heightism may become overly concerned with how they appear to others. They may wear special shoes to make themself appear taller or surround themselves with individuals who are even shorter than they are. If this is taken to the extreme, it becomes a neurosis.It may also cause an individual to be prone to flashy outward displays, with behavior ranging from attention-seeking to excessive competitiveness and aggression, in an attempt to compensate for their either real or imagined deficiencies.

ChatGPT

  1. inferiority

    Inferiority is a state or condition of being less than, inferior, or of lower quality, rank, or importance compared to something or someone else. It can also refer to a feeling of being less valuable or not as good as someone else, usually stemming from a comparison or judgment. It is often associated with a lack of self-esteem or self-worth.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Inferiority

    the state of being inferior; a lower state or condition; as, inferiority of rank, of talents, of age, of worth

  2. Etymology: [Cf. F. infriorit.]

Matched Categories

How to pronounce inferiority?

How to say inferiority in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of inferiority in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of inferiority in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of inferiority in a Sentence

  1. Alfred Adler:

    The feeling of inferiority rules the mental life and can be clearly recognized in the sense of incompleteness and unfulfillment, and in the uninterrupted struggle both of individuals and humanity.

  2. Vanna Bonta:

    I would rather have an inferiority complex and be pleasantly surprised than have a superiority complex and be rudely awakened.

  3. Alfred Adler:

    The feeling of inferiority rules the mental life and can be clearly recognized as the sense of incompleteness and unfulfillment ... both of individuals and of humanity.

  4. Mark Twain, What Is Man? (1906):

    The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creature that cannot.

  5. Imam Ali, Peak of Eloquence (Nahjul Balagha):

    148. One who does not realize his own value is condemned to utter failure. (Every kind of complex, superiority or inferiority is harmful to man).

Popularity rank by frequency of use

inferiority#10000#52274#100000

Translations for inferiority

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for inferiority »

Translation

Find a translation for the inferiority definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"inferiority." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/inferiority>.

Discuss these inferiority definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for inferiority? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Browse Definitions.net

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    To cause to become
    A elaborate
    B render
    C cleave
    D summon

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for inferiority: