A supervisor is someone whose job is to oversee and guide other people's work. They make sure work gets done correctly, help solve problems, and keep things running smoothly.

In a factory, a supervisor might watch over a team of workers assembling products, checking quality and helping when machines break down. In an office, a supervisor manages a group of employees, assigns tasks, and makes sure deadlines are met. At a summer camp, a supervisor ensures that counselors are taking good care of the campers.

Supervisors sit between regular workers and top management. They understand the actual work because they often did it themselves before being promoted. A good supervisor knows how to teach, encourage, and correct without being mean or unfair. They're responsible when things go wrong with their team, but they also get to celebrate when their team succeeds.

The word can also describe similar roles: a graduate student might work under the supervision of a professor, meaning the professor guides the student's research. Your parents supervise you when they watch you practice a new skill, making sure you're safe and learning correctly.