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nounnounadjective

der Vorgesetzter, Vorgesetzte

supervisor

Eine Person, die anderen sagt, welche Aufgaben sie machen sollen, und die für ihre Arbeit verantwortlich ist.

Definition & meaning

The word Vorgesetzter refers to a person who holds a higher rank or position within a hierarchy and has the authority to issue instructions or orders to subordinates. In a professional context, it is most commonly translated as "superior," "supervisor," "manager," or "boss."

The term is frequently used in corporate environments, public administration, and the military. It implies a formal relationship defined by professional roles rather than a personal connection. While a Chef might be a more casual or general term for a boss, Vorgesetzter specifically highlights the functional position of being "set above" someone else in a chain of command.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammatically, Vorgesetzter is a nominalized adjective. This means it functions as a noun but follows the declension rules of German adjectives.

  • Masculine: der Vorgesetzte (the superior), ein Vorgesetzter (a superior).
  • Feminine: die Vorgesetzte.
  • Plural: die Vorgesetzten.

The word is composed of two main parts:

  1. vor (before/in front): Indicating a position of priority or higher standing.
  2. gesetzt (placed/set): The past participle of the verb setzen.

Literally, it describes someone who has been "placed before" or "set over" others. This construction mirrors the Latin word superior, which also implies being higher in a hierarchy.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • Chef: A very common and slightly more informal term for a boss.
  • Leiter: Someone who leads a department or a specific group.
  • Dienstherr: Used primarily in the context of civil servants and public law.
  • Vorgesetzte: The female form of the word.
  • Vorgesetzter: The male form (this word).

Antonyms:

  • Untergebener: A subordinate; someone who must follow the orders of a superior.
  • Mitarbeiter: An employee or colleague; a more modern and neutral term for someone working under a supervisor.
  • Angestellter: An employee, focusing on the contractual relationship rather than the hierarchy.

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Examples

Mein Vorgesetzter gibt mir eine Aufgabe.noun

My supervisor gives me a task.

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