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• first class
  first class

  noun

  the best, finest, or highest class, grade, or rank.
• first-class
  first-class

  adjective

  of the highest or best class or quality.

first class

¹ American  

noun

• first classes
  plural

1. the best, finest, or highest class, grade, or rank.

2. the most expensive and most luxurious class of accommodation on trains, ships, airplanes, etc.

3. (in the U.S. Postal Service) the class of mail consisting of letters, postal cards, or the like, together with all mailable matter sealed against inspection.

4. British University. the group receiving the highest distinction in an honors course.

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first-class ² American  

[furst-klas, -klahs] / ˈfɜrstˈklæs, -ˈklɑs /

adjective

1. of the highest or best class or quality.

   a first-class movie.

2. best-equipped and most expensive.

   a first-class railroad car.

3. given or entitled to preferred treatment, handling, etc..

   first-class mail.

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adverb

1. by first-class conveyance.

   to travel first-class.

first class British  

noun

1. the class or grade of the best or highest value, quality, etc

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adjective

1. of the best or highest class or grade

   a first-class citizen

2. excellent; first-rate

3. of or denoting the most comfortable and expensive class of accommodation in a hotel, aircraft, train, etc

4. 1. (in Britain) of or relating to mail that is processed most quickly

   2. (in the US and Canada) of or relating to mail that consists mainly of written letters, cards, etc

5. education See first

adverb

1. by first-class mail, means of transportation, etc

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• first classes
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of first class¹

First recorded in 1740–50

Origin of first-class²

First recorded in 1780–90

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Explanation

If something is first-class, it's the very best. First-class seats on an airplane are the roomiest and most comfortable—and the most expensive. This adjective is perfect for describing the highest-quality version of something, from first-class stamps that get your letter to its destination faster to a first-class detective who relentlessly follows every single clue until the mystery is solved. First-class orchestras are highly accomplished, and a first-class moving company is unlikely to break your dishes while transporting them to your new house.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

first class first-class

"I didn't take any first class mail out on my last shift because I was on a road that's been behind for weeks," a worker in the West Midlands told me.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

As we drove together to his first class, I couldn’t help feeling that this was a terrible mistake, allowing David to breach a sacred space I had just barely carved out for myself.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

"Whether you're in first class, business class, whatever it is, you're still on a plane."

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

And as we were getting on the plane, Morris and them, they’re all sitting in first class.

From Slate ● Aug. 22, 2026

First, it was located just two rows behind the plastic barrier that marked first class.

From "City Spies" by James Ponti

You can only reserve either Five Star option if you have a first-class or business-class ticket.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

She grafted hard to do well at school and got a first-class degree from the University of Central Lancashire.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

At times when Razaullah - who has one first-class century - was going berserk England captain Joe Root wore the expression of a chess player waiting for someone to tell him it was his move.

From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026

Hand him a first-class ticket to any conflict zone on Earth and his diplomatic temperament would ease tensions that have long bedeviled U.N. envoys.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

The first-class citizenry comprises the chief, who has authority over the whole village, his aides, and the Khmer Rouge soldiers.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung

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