finest

American

[fahy-nist] / ˈfaɪ nɪst /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

the police.

New York City's finest.

Etymology

Origin of finest

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As beautiful as this book is, worthy of the finest coffee table, it would be a mistake to call it a hagiography.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

The ballroom would be "the finest Building of its kind anywhere in the World," he insisted.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

But that didn’t stop Team USA from trying out a stand-up-and-salute shtick as a collection of America’s finest players grimaced their way through the recent World Baseball Classic.

From Salon • Mar. 18, 2026

The rollercoaster nature of it all is what has made this championship, arguably, the finest in Six Nations history.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

I was all of ten years old and it was one of the finest growing seasons Bent Fork had ever seen.

From "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" by Betty G. Birney

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023