noun · neutral

supervisor

UK/ˈsuːpəvaɪzə/US/ˈsuːpərvaɪzər/SU·per·vi·sor

Band 5-6speakingtask2

a person who oversees and directs the work of others, often at a frontline or team level

Examples

Talk to your supervisor if you need extra support with the project.

Her supervisor signed off on the overtime hours.

On the factory line, the supervisor monitors quality and attendance.

Band 8 sentence

A competent supervisor strikes a balance between meeting targets and supporting individual development, rather than simply policing attendance.

Collocations

  • direct supervisor
  • report to a supervisor
  • line supervisor

Word family

supervise verbsupervision nounsupervisory adjective

Common mistakes

I report on to my supervisor.I report to my supervisor.

Say it for a higher band

5boss6team leader7+supervisor

Synonyms

boss

Easily confused

manager

The manager approved the budget for the new team.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Work & Career

Learn it with its set