apex

¹ American  

[ey-peks] / ˈeɪ pɛks /

noun

plural

apexes, apices

1. the tip, point, or vertex; summit.

2. climax; peak; acme.

   His election to the presidency was the apex of his career.

3. Astronomy. solar apex.

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APEX ² American  

[ey-peks] / ˈeɪ pɛks /

noun

1. a type of international airfare offering reduced rates for extended stays that are booked in advance.

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apex ¹ British  

/ ˈeɪpɛks /

noun

1. the highest point; vertex

2. the pointed end or tip of something

3. a pinnacle or high point, as of a career, etc

4. Also called: solar apex.  astronomy the point on the celestial sphere, lying in the constellation Hercules, towards which the sun appears to move at a velocity of 20 kilometres per second relative to the nearest stars

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APEX ² British  

/ ˈeɪpɛks /

acronym

1. Advance Purchase Excursion: a reduced airline or long-distance rail fare that must be paid a specified number of days in advance

2. (in Britain) Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical, and Computer Staff

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Etymology

Origin of apex¹

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1595–1605

Origin of APEX²

First recorded in 1970–75; A(dvance) P(urchase) Ex(cursion)

Example Sentences

Suddenly, the rock god who only three years prior hit his commercial apex with “Let’s Dance,” a master of artistic shapeshifting who pioneered music videos long before MTV existed, was prancing around with Muppets.

From Salon

An AI-tribute to the fallen, posted on Jan. 4, represents that breed of absurdity’s apex.

From Salon

Their invention was like dropping a new apex predator into the investment habitat—an unfair fight.

From The Wall Street Journal

We became apex predators not because of individualism but because of a sense of community.

From Salon

Some species were small, squid-eating hunters measuring less than 1 m long, while others were enormous apex predators exceeding 5 m in length.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• apogee
• culmination
• pinnacle