Basic Details
Word: Superstructure
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The part of a building, bridge or ship that is built on top of its base or main deck. It can also mean a system of ideas built on a basic one.
Antonyms: substructure, foundation
How to Spell Superstructure
Syllables: su - per - struc - ture
Tricky part: It is super + structure with nothing dropped. Students lose the c in struc (superstruture) or write the end as cher.
Watch out for: superstruture, superstructer, suparstructure
Memory tip: Super means above, so the superstructure is the structure above. Spell the two parts separately, then join them.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The ship's white superstructure rose high above the grey hull.
Example 2: Engineers checked the bridge's steel superstructure after the earthquake.
Example 3: Once the foundation was ready, workers began raising the superstructure of the new school block.
Fun Fact
On an aircraft carrier, the tall superstructure standing on one side of the flight deck is called the island.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the prefix super. Choose it:
a) fortunate
b) generous
c) structure
d) delicate
Show answer
c) structure. Superstructure is a real word; super does not join fortunate, generous or delicate to make one.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to complete the word:
sup_rstruct_re
a) i, u
b) e, u
c) a, u
d) e, a
Show answer
b) e, u. Super has e before r, and structure ends in ture.
Spell-o-Spell
Read the four words. Choose the meaning of the only correctly spelt word:
1. architecure 2. superstructure 3. foundasion 4. scafolding
a) a temporary frame of poles and planks used by builders
b) the part of a building or ship built above its base
c) the art of designing buildings
d) the solid base under a building
Show answer
b) the part of a building or ship built above its base. Architecture has a t before the ure, foundation ends in tion and scaffolding has a double f.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which part of a house is NOT part of its superstructure?
a) the foundation
b) the roof
c) the upper floors
d) the walls
Show answer
a) the foundation
2. The prefix super in superstructure means ____.
a) against
b) beside
c) above
d) below
Show answer
c) above
