The bridge collapsed because the contractor used inferior steel that failed to meet safety specifications.
桥梁倒塌是因为承包商使用了不符合安全规格的劣质钢材。
Contrary to the common assumption that ancient Roman concrete was inferior to modern concrete, recent analysis of Roman harbor structures that have survived intact for two thousand years suggests that certain volcanic-ash mixtures used by Roman builders actually grow stronger over time when exposed to seawater.
From a Central Ideas and Details question · Information and Ideas
Which choice best defines “inferior”?
C — Lower in quality. “inferior” means lower in quality.
Which word means “lower in quality”?
B — inferior. “inferior” means lower in quality.
inferior — lower in quality. In Chinese: 次等的，较差的.
inferior is pronounced /ɪnˈfɪriər/.
The bridge collapsed because the contractor used inferior steel that failed to meet safety specifications. (桥梁倒塌是因为承包商使用了不符合安全规格的劣质钢材。)
substandard, poor, second-rate — all close in meaning to inferior (lower in quality).
superior, excellent — each the opposite of inferior (lower in quality).
Yes. inferior is on the SAT Prep Basic list — the everyday academic words the SAT assumes you already have. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.
in(under)+fer(bring)+ior