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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

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

WSJ: How do you balance the need to keep costs really low so you can offer those much lower fares with first class, Starlink and all the things that people expect?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

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

From Slate ● Aug. 22, 2026

George walked right through the doors of the first class baggage room and down a steep metal staircase that led to the hold.

From "I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912" by Lauren Tarshis

This season Crane took 34 wickets in the County Championship and demonstrated his improvement with the bat by making his first two first-class hundreds.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

For example opener Saim Ayub, one of those called up for this Test, is playing in a first-class match for the first time since October 2025.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

Like her sister, she never doubts for one minute that she is a first-class citizen, entitled to equal rights, bodily autonomy, basic respect and a life of her choosing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

They don’t need a first-class intelligence service to spell it out for them.

From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026

The last of the first-class passengers to be interviewed—Mr. Hardman—was the big flamboyant American who had shared a table with the Italian and the valet.

From "Murder on the Orient Express" by Agatha Christie