optimal

[op-tuh-muhl]

adjective

1. optimum.

optimal

/ ˈɒptɪməl /

adjective

1. another word for optimum

Other Word Forms

• optimally adverb
• superoptimal adjective
• optimality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of optimal¹

First recorded in 1885–90; optim(um) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

"This study suggests that the current approach of relying on risk scores and symptoms as primary gatekeepers for prevention is not optimal," he says.

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That means coordinating flows of income, withdrawals, Roth IRA conversions, charitable giving, capital gains, and equity compensation so that your income lands in the optimal tax bracket over time.

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They make inside jokes in Fante and then stare directly at me to encourage optimal discomfort.

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"This kind of research is important for understanding how we can select the optimal bacteriophages for therapies, and to understand the differences in infectious behavior we see in the lab," Dr. Hodgkinson-Bean says.

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They’re trying to figure out if some are better for you than others, if there is an optimal type of fermentation and what exactly it is about these foods that makes them healthy.

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Related Words

• excellent