superhero

superhero — noun

1. a character in stories, films, or comics who has special abilities beyond those

1.nounB1
Definition

a character in stories, films, or comics who has special abilities beyond those of ordinary people and uses them to protect others and fight against evil.

Example

The children dressed as their favorite superhero for the school costume parade.

dressed as + [superhero] for + event

Minho's little sister believes the superhero can fly faster than any airplane.

Common collocations
  • superhero movie
  • superhero film
  • superhero comic
  • superhero costume
  • superhero powers
  • superhero team
  • superhero series
Synonyms
  • hero

    broader term; all superheroes are heroes, but not all heroes have superhuman powers

  • protector

    focuses on the role of defending others rather than having special powers

  • crime-fighter

    more specific; emphasizes fighting criminals and injustice

Antonyms
  • villain

    the character who opposes the superhero and does harmful things

  • supervillain

    a villain with powers or resources comparable to a superhero

Grammar Patterns

a/the superhero

superhero + noun (e.g. superhero movie, superhero costume)

Usage Note

Often used attributively before nouns such as film, movie, comic, book, series, costume, or team, especially in discussions of popular culture.

Common Mistakes

Superman is a super hero.
Superman is a superhero.
The word is a single closed compound, not two separate words.
He is a superhero athlete.
He is a superhuman athlete.
'superhero' refers to a fictional character, not to someone's skill level.

2. a real person who does something extremely brave or unselfish, especially in a d

2.nounB2
Definition

a real person who does something extremely brave or unselfish, especially in a dangerous situation where others need help.

Example

A firefighter who saved a family from a burning building was called a superhero on the news.

called a superhero on + [medium]

Nora does not see herself as a superhero — she only wanted to help her elderly neighbor.

Common collocations
  • town superhero
  • everyday superhero
  • unsung superhero
  • called a superhero
Synonyms
  • hero

    the general term for a brave person; 'superhero' adds a stronger, more emotional emphasis

  • role model

    emphasizes being an example for others to follow, not necessarily bravery in danger

  • savior

    stronger, often religious connotation; suggests rescuing someone from a dire situation

Antonyms
  • coward

    a person who lacks the courage to do what is right or necessary

Grammar Patterns

called a superhero

be a superhero for + [reason]

like a superhero

Usage Note

Common in news headlines and everyday praise, but the act described must be genuinely exceptional — not used for routine good deeds such as helping with homework or holding a door open.

Common Mistakes

My mom is a superhero for making me breakfast.
My mom is a superhero for working two jobs to support our family.
This sense requires an extraordinary or self-sacrificing act, not an ordinary daily task.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe someone who does good, but they differ in scope and connotation. A superhero is a fictional character with superhuman abilities — think Superman or Spider-Man — while a hero can be either fictional or real and does not need special powers. A protector focuses on the role of shielding others from harm, and can be used both literally (a bodyguard) and figuratively (a parent). A crime-fighter is more specific, emphasizing active efforts to stop criminals rather than general heroism. For example: 'Batman is a superhero who fights crime in Gotham' works for all four, but only superhero fits 'She dressed as a superhero for Halloween.'

superhero ↗hero ↗protector ↗crime-fighter

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • superhero movie
  • superhero film
  • superhero comic
  • superhero costume
  • superhero powers
  • superhero team
  • superhero series
  • superhero story
  • superhero franchise

Prepositions

  • of a superhero
  • like a superhero
  • as a superhero

Etymology

LatinGreekEnglish

A combination of the Latin prefix super-, meaning 'above' or 'beyond', and the Greek-derived word hero, meaning 'a person admired for courage or noble qualities.' The term first appeared in print around 1917 but became widely used after the debut of Superman in Action Comics #1 (1938), which launched the modern superhero genre.