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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

Etymology

Origin of first class¹

First recorded in 1740–50

Origin of first-class²

First recorded in 1780–90

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

American Airlines plans to install screens at every seat as part of a cabin overhaul that includes adding more rows in first class and extra legroom in narrow-body planes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

She opened up the first class by holding up the book and declaring, “This is what the field of sociology is about.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026

The first class Nakajima took at UCB was John Flynn’s storytelling course.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2026

That year, 76.9% of first class letters and 92.2% of second class letters were delivered on time.

From BBC ● May 29, 2026

He had never been in a first class compartment before.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill

The airline plans to add more first-class rows and extra-legroom seating; rivals United and Delta have featured screens for years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

He scored 28,314 in his first-class career, including 7,041 for Nottinghamshire.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

Frontier is rolling out more amenities, including first-class seats, as budget airlines struggle with rising costs and stronger competition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

Postal Service is raising the price of its first-class “forever” stamps this Sunday, July 12, jumping from 78 cents to 82 cents each.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 8, 2026

I asked Big Ma for two dollars to buy first-class envelopes, a memo pad, and postage stamps so we could write a proper letter to our mother.

From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia