supervisor

supervisor — noun

1. a person at work whose duties include watching the tasks, progress, and conduct

1.nounB2
Definition

a person at work whose duties include watching the tasks, progress, and conduct of a group of workers or a specific operation.

Example

Gabriela asked her supervisor for feedback on the monthly sales report.

possessive: 'her supervisor'

The warehouse supervisor checked each shipment before it left the building.

[place] + supervisor: location-specific role

Common collocations
  • direct supervisor
  • shift supervisor
  • report to a supervisor
  • work under a supervisor
  • speak to a supervisor
Synonyms
  • manager

    broader role; includes planning and budgeting, not only daily oversight

  • overseer

    more formal or historical; less common in modern offices

  • foreman

    specific to construction, manufacturing, or manual work settings

Antonyms
  • subordinate

    a person lower in rank who reports to a supervisor

  • employee

    general term for a person who works under supervision

Usage Note

Common in business, manufacturing, and service settings. A supervisor typically reports to a manager and oversees front-line workers. The specific title often includes the department or area (shift supervisor, warehouse supervisor, production supervisor).

Common Mistakes

I asked my supervisor for a day off, and he said me yes.
I asked my supervisor for a day off, and he said yes.
'say' does not take an indirect object; use 'tell' or rephrase.

2. a university teacher who guides a graduate student's research project, thesis, o

2.nounB2
Definition

a university teacher who guides a graduate student's research project, thesis, or overall course of academic study.

Example

Emre meets his thesis supervisor every Friday to discuss his research progress.

thesis supervisor: common collocation

Professor Okonkwo has been Jenna's academic supervisor since her first year of graduate school.

academic supervisor: full formal title

Common collocations
  • thesis supervisor
  • research supervisor
  • academic supervisor
  • choose a supervisor
  • meet with a supervisor
  • supervisor's approval
Synonyms
  • advisor

    more common in US universities; slightly broader in scope

  • mentor

    more personal; focuses on career and personal growth, not just academic work

  • faculty advisor

    formal title used for student clubs or course selection guidance

Antonyms
  • student

    the person being supervised

  • advisee

    formal term for a student under a supervisor's guidance

Usage Note

Standard in British and Australian universities for both undergraduate and graduate guidance. In the US, 'advisor' is more common for undergraduates, while 'thesis supervisor' or 'dissertation chair' is used for graduate research. In Taiwan, 指導教授 is the standard equivalent.

Common Mistakes

I need to find a supervisor for my thesis.' (too vague — 'supervisor' alone can be unclear for non-academic listeners)
I need to find a thesis supervisor.
adding 'thesis' clarifies the academic context immediately.

3. in some US states, an elected local official who oversees public services and co

3.nounC1
Definition

in some US states, an elected local official who oversees public services and community decisions for a county or a town.

Example

The county supervisor held a public meeting about the new road construction plan.

county supervisor: US-specific role

After the local park was closed, Eleni decided to run for town supervisor.

run for supervisor: election context

Common collocations
  • county supervisor
  • town supervisor
  • board of supervisors
  • elected supervisor
  • run for supervisor
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • constituent

    a voter or resident represented by an elected official

Usage Note

Only used in US local government. Different states have different titles for the same role (commissioner, council member, selectperson). Not used in Taiwan's political system; the closest concepts are 市議員 (city council member) or 區長 (district head).

Common Mistakes

Taiwan also has county supervisors.
Some US counties have elected supervisors, but Taiwan uses different titles for local government roles.
This sense is specific to US government structures and should not be applied to other countries.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe a person who directs others at work, but the setting and scope differ. 'Supervisor' focuses on watching daily tasks and guiding front-line workers, and is common across offices, factories, and retail. 'Manager' has a wider role: a manager plans budgets, sets strategy, and may supervise several teams — not just oversee routine work. 'Overseer' is more formal or historical, often appearing in contexts like farm or prison labour; it is rarely used in modern offices. 'Foreman' is specific to physical work environments — construction sites, assembly lines, warehouses — and implies hands-on knowledge of the trade. Compare: a shift supervisor checks staff schedules at a call centre; a store manager decides the annual budget for the same store; a foreman leads a crew of roofers on a building site.

supervisor ↗manager ↗overseerforeman

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • line of supervision
  • chain of supervision
  • supervisor-subordinate relationship

Prepositions

  • under a supervisor
  • report to a supervisor

Etymology

LatinMedieval LatinEnglish

Formed in late Middle English from the Latin verb 'supervidere' — 'super-' (above, over) plus 'videre' (to see). The literal meaning is 'one who sees from above'. The word entered English through Medieval Latin 'supervisor', originally used in religious and academic contexts before expanding to workplace and government roles.