The quality of being lower in rank, status, quality, or value compared to something else.
From Latin 'inferior' (lower) plus '-ity' (condition of). 'Inferior' comes from 'inferus' meaning below or underneath, related to 'inferno' for hell.
Psychologist Alfred Adler made 'inferiority complex' famous—the idea that childhood struggles create a deep feeling of being less-than—but he also said it could motivate incredible achievement if channeled right.
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