Skip to content
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

overseer

/ˈoʊvɚˈsiɚ/

Press play to hear how to pronounce overseer.

American Pronunciation Guide · 0:57
Watch on YouTube ↗

What does overseer mean?

noun

  1. (historical) The manager of a plantation of slaves.
More meanings (3)

noun

  1. (historical) An officer responsible for the care of the poor, making out lists of voters and those who had not paid taxes, etc.
  2. (obsolete) A critic.
  3. (obsolete) A bishop.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈoʊvɚˈsiɚ/

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

Do not stay to be an overseer of the poor, but endeavor to become one of the worthies of the world.
Henry David ThoreauWalden, and On The Duty Of Civil DisobedienceProject Gutenberg ebook #205
This may mean almost anything, or nothing at all, just according to the caprice of the master or overseer, at the moment.
Frederick DouglassMy Bondage and My FreedomProject Gutenberg ebook #202
More book examples (3)
The homes of the Germans had been allowed to fall into ruin, the overseer occupying a three-roomed house, with an outside kitchen.
Adelaide L. (Adelaide Lisetta) FriesThe Moravians in Georgia, 1735-1740Project Gutenberg ebook #570
But those fortunate nests already have their overseer, the foundress, who, jealous of her rights, gives her unemployed neighbour a cold reception.
Jean-Henri FabreBramble-Bees and OthersTranslated by Alexander Teixeira de MattosProject Gutenberg ebook #3421
With the others came my Indian overseer, who shouted that he too wanted revenge, as some of the goats had belonged to him.
J. H. (John Henry) PattersonThe Man-Eaters of Tsavo, and Other East African AdventuresProject Gutenberg ebook #3810