adj. 1 of or on the surface; lacking depth (a superficial knowledge; superficial wounds). 2 swift or cursory (a superficial examination). 3 apparent but not real (a superficial resemblance). 4 (esp. of a person) having no depth of character or knowlege; trivial; shallow. 5 Commerce (of a measure) square (cf. SUPER adj. 3). superficiality n. (pl. -ies). superficially adv. superficialness n.
[ LL superficialis f. L (as SUPERFICIES) ]