The master equation comparison suppresses interference terms by tracing over environmental degrees of freedom, but this mathematical move does not eliminate superpositions from the global state.

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Environmental degrees of freedom(as used in quantum mechanics): All the different ways that particles and energy in the surrounding environment can move and change, which can affect a system you're trying to study.
Global state(as used in quantum mechanics): A complete description of everything about a system—including all its parts and their relationships—at a given moment.
Interference terms(as used in quantum mechanics): Mathematical pieces that show up when waves or quantum particles interact with each other, representing how their combined behavior differs from their individual behaviors added together.
Master equation(as used in quantum mechanics and thermodynamics): A mathematical equation that describes how a system changes over time by tracking all the ways it can evolve, often used in physics to simplify complex systems.

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