inferiorer

Inferiorer is a nonstandard or non-lexical comparative form of the adjective inferior. It is not recognized by major English dictionaries and is rarely found in formal writing. When speakers want to stress relative inferiority, they typically use more inferior for emphasis or, more commonly, another adjective such as lower or lesser.

Etymology and form: The word would be created by attaching the standard English comparative suffix -er to the base adjective inferior. Because inferior is multisyllabic, English normally forms the comparative with more (as in more inferior) rather than with -er. As a result, inferiorer is generally seen as a nonce word, a joke, or a slip of the tongue rather than a standard comparative.

Usage: In practice, inferiorer appears only in informal contexts, satire, or language-learning examples to illustrate nonstandard formation. It can confuse readers and is usually discouraged in formal or academic writing. A typical acceptable alternative is to use more inferior for emphasis, or to choose a different descriptor altogether, such as lower or lesser, depending on meaning.

See also: inferior; comparative forms; nonstandard English; grammar and style.