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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

Linderman took her first class four days later and was already onstage the next day.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

United Airlines said it’s bringing those dreaded basic fares to first class.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 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

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

From Slate ● Aug. 22, 2026

After graduating our first class of twenty-seven Allies in the spring, we welcomed a new set of forty in the fall and continued to grow from there.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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

Karvelas was finally out when he edged Porter to give Pepper a fifth catch in the innings and Porter his 600th first-class wicket in figures of 4-44.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

We think the introduction of first-class seats and more premium seating on the aircraft, I think that’s a real positive into adapting to the new environment post-Covid.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

‘You two have everything it takes to make first-class police detectives.’

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd