superstructure

noun

su·​per·​struc·​ture ˈsü-pər-ˌstrək-chər How to pronounce superstructure (audio)
1
a
: an entity, concept, or complex based on a more fundamental one
b
: social institutions (such as the law or politics) that are in Marxist theory erected upon the economic base
2
: a structure built as a vertical extension of something else: such as
a
: all of a building above the basement
b
: the structural part of a ship above the main deck
superstructural adjective

Examples of superstructure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Its crew saved it, in part, by using heavy steel cables to tie cracked portions of the ship’s superstructure together. Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 22 Mar. 2026 Nearby, Bailly Homestead will also be wrapping up a $2 million to $3 million rehab of its superstructure around the same time, as will the House of Tomorrow on the shores of Lake Michigan. Shelley Jones, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026 Sporting a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, the vessel can accommodate 14 guests. David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 20 Mar. 2026 The work, moving in dizzying fits and starts across the surface of time, reveals connections between historical memory and now, and between political order and cultural superstructure. Hilton Als, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for superstructure

Word History

First Known Use

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of superstructure was in 1626

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Cite this Entry

“Superstructure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superstructure. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

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