peerless
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- peerlessly adverb
- peerlessness noun
Etymology
Origin of peerless
First recorded in 1275–1325, peerless is from the Middle English word pereles. See peer 2, -less
Explanation
Do you ever feel like one of a kind? Then maybe you are peerless, a word for someone (or something) unique, excellent, and superior. Peerless is a variation of peer — a word for folks in the same boat as you, or at least the same class. A teacher's peers are other teachers, but if she's a much better teacher than anyone, you could call her a peerless teacher. One of the many compliments given to Michael Jordan is that he was peerless. Amazing, one-of-a-kind people like Picasso, Gandhi, and Shakespeare are considered peerless. The rest of us have a lot of peers.
Vocabulary lists containing peerless
"Macbeth" Vocabulary from Act I
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The Tragedy of Macbeth
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Power Suffix: -less
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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.
“On Hold” best married the band’s two worlds, sample-soaked yet rock driven; “Angels” remained a peerless devotional ballad.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026
He left a peerless catalogue of songs articulating the life of working class Irish immigrants, with tales of finding love in the slums littered with references to literature, mythology and the Bible.
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
Affectionate fans venerate the dialogue’s electric crackle and the cast’s peerless comedic timing.
From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026
And, on the radio, Terry Gross’ peerless interview series “Fresh Air” catalogs figures who have shaped our times.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 29, 2025
The peerless laboratory facilities and distinguished faculty of New Haven, Connecticut, attracted an especially promising crop of young researchers.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
