superscript

S1U1P3E1R1S1C3R1I1P3T1

noun

A type of lettering form that appears as a number, figure, or symbol above the normal line of type, located at the right or left of another symbol or text.

“In x², the 2 written in superscript means “to the power of two”.”

Similar
Less commonScrabble 17

Meanings

nounsuperscript (countable and uncountable, plural superscripts)

plural superscripts

  1. countableuncountablemediaA type of lettering form that appears as a number, figure, or symbol above the normal line of type, located at the right or left of another symbol or text.

    In x², the 2 written in superscript means “to the power of two”.

adjectivesuperscript (not comparable)
  1. not comparablePlaced above the normal line of text.
verbsuperscript (third-person singular simple present superscripts, present participle superscripting, simple past and past participle superscripted)

present singular third person superscripts · participle present superscripting · participle past superscripted · past superscripted

  1. transitivemathematicsTo provide with a superscript.

    The ambient or unsaturated value of a variable is superscripted with a "*".

    1987, Pragasen Pillay, “Permanent magnet synchronous motor drives and brushless DC motor drives for servo applications”, Conference Record of the 1987 IEEE Industry Applications Society Annual Meeting (Part I), IEEE, page 387
  2. transitivemediaTo convert to a superscript form.

    Select the number or letter you want to superscript and, in the Font dialog box, enter an Offset percentage to tell PowerPoint how high to raise the number or letter.

    2011, Peter Weverka, PowerPoint 2007 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies

Synonyms & antonyms

Opposite
Opposite

adjectivewritten or printed above and to one side of another character

Similar

nouna character or symbol set or printed or written above and immediately to one side of another character

Similar
Opposite
Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latinsuperscriptus“written above”
  2. Middle Frenchsuperscript
  3. Englishsuperscript

From Middle French superscript, from Latin superscriptus (“written above”). By surface analysis, super- + script.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 上標 /上标
  • 上標 /上标 (shàngbiāo)a type of lettering form
Czech horní index
  • horní indexa type of lettering form
Finnish yläindeksi
  • yläindeksia type of lettering form
French exposant, lettre supérieure
  • exposanta type of lettering form
  • lettre supérieurea type of lettering form
German Superskript, Hochstellung
  • Superskripta type of lettering form
  • Hochstellunga type of lettering form
  • hochgestelltes Zeichena type of lettering form
  • hochgestelltes Druckzeichena type of lettering form
  • Exponenta type of lettering form
  • Hochzahla type of lettering form
  • hochstehendes Zeichena type of lettering form
Greek εκθέτης
  • εκθέτης (ekthétis)a type of lettering form
Hungarian felső index
  • felső indexa type of lettering form
Italian apice
  • apicea type of lettering form
Japanese 上つき
  • 上つき (uwatsuki)a type of lettering form
Norwegian Bokmål hevet skrift
  • hevet skrifta type of lettering form
Portuguese sobrescrito
  • sobrescritoa type of lettering form
Russian ве́рхний и́ндекс, суперскри́пт
  • ве́рхний и́ндекс (vérxnij índɛks)a type of lettering form
  • суперскри́пт (superskrípt)a type of lettering form
Spanish superíndice
  • superíndicea type of lettering form
Cite this entry
APA

superscript. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/superscript

MLA

“superscript.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/superscript. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “superscript,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/superscript.

Source: superscript on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.