Informally, it's said to acknowledge superiority (3)

I believe the answer is:

guv

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'superiority' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?

I can't explain the rest of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for guv that I've seen before include "Sir" , "Boss (inf.)" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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