inferior Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun one of lesser rank or station or quality
noun a character or symbol set or printed or written beneath or slightly below and to the side of another character
subscript.
adjective of or characteristic of low rank or importance
adjective of low or inferior quality
adjective written or printed below and to one side of another character
subscript.
adjective having an orbit between the sun and the Earth's orbit
- Mercury and Venus are inferior planets
adjective satellite lower than a given reference point
- inferior alveolar artery
adjective satellite falling short of some prescribed norm
deficient; substandard.
- substandard housing

L., compar. of inferus that is below, underneath, the lower; akin to E. under: cf. F. inférieur. See Under.

Lower in place, rank, excellence, etc.; less important or valuable; subordinate; underneath; beneath.
A thousand inferior and particular propositions. I. Watts.

The body, or, as some love to call it, our inferior nature. Burke.

Whether they are equal or inferior to my other poems, an author is the most improper judge. Dryden.
Poor or mediocre; as, an inferior quality of goods.
(Astron.) (a) Nearer the sun than the earth is; as, the inferior or interior planets; an inferior conjunction of Mercury or Venus. (b) Below the horizon; as, the inferior part of a meridian,
(Bot.) (a) Situated below some other organ; -- said of a calyx when free from the ovary, and therefore below it, or of an ovary with an adherent and therefore inferior calyx. (b) On the side of a flower which is next the bract; anterior.
(Min.) Junior or subordinate in rank; as, an inferior officer.

A person lower in station, rank, intellect, etc., than another.
A great person gets more by obliging his inferior than by disdaining him. South.