- the part of a building above its foundation
- any structure or concept erected on something else
- any structure above the main deck of a ship with sides flush with the sides of the hull
- the part of a bridge supported by the piers and abutments
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
su•per•struc•ture /ˈsupɚˌstrʌktʃɚ/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Civil Engineering, Architecturethe part of a building, ship, or construction entirely above its foundation, basement, or deck:The superstructure of the battle cruiser rose in the night sky over the Atlantic.
su•per•struc•ture
(so̅o̅′pər struk′chər),USA pronunciation n.
su′per•struc′tur•al, adj.
- Civil Engineering, Architecturethe part of a building or construction entirely above its foundation or basement.
- Civil Engineeringany structure built on something else.
- the overlying framework or features of an organization, institution, or system, built or superimposed on a more fundamental base.
- Nautical, Naval Termsany construction built above the main deck of a vessel as an upward continuation of the sides. Cf. deckhouse.
- Civil Engineeringthe part of a bridge that rests on the piers and abutments.
- anything based on or rising from some foundation or basis:a complex ideological superstructure based on two hypotheses.
- super- + structure 1635–45
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
superstructure /ˈsuːpəˌstrʌktʃə/ n
'superstructure' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
conning tower
- mastaba
- pillar
- squinch
- steeple
- underpin
- boat deck
- break
- bridge
- deck
- deckhouse
- forecastle
- forecastle deck
- forecastle head
- foredeck
- foundation
- historical materialism
- poop
- topgallant forecastle
- steelwork
- super