record-breaking

American  

[rek-erd-brey-king] / ˈrɛk ərdˌbreɪ kɪŋ /

adjective

1. so great, successful, numerous, extreme, etc., as to surpass all previous records.

   We had a record-breaking fundraising drive this year.

   He scored a record-breaking 97 goals in a single season.

---

Etymology

Origin of record-breaking

First recorded in 1880–85

Explanation

A record-breaking achievement is better than any previous attempt by anyone, or at least better than any officially documented one. If you solve the Rubik's Cube faster than the fastest solver, that would be a record-breaking feat! When someone sets a record, they accomplish something that hasn't ever been topped: no one has run faster, or eaten more hot dogs, or lived longer. There are also records for things like the hottest day, fattest bear, and most powerful telescope. Eventually, nearly every record gets broken, and the event that does it is record-breaking. So if you practice every day, maybe you can one day be a record-breaking Rubik's Cube solver — but you'll probably have to do it in less than three seconds!

Example Sentences

While most carriers pocket your premiums, mutual insurance companies are owned by their customers — and this year, they’re sending out record-breaking dividends to policyholders.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 16, 2026

“Ninety degrees is not record-breaking heat, but 90 degrees with humidity is not something that folks in L.A. are necessarily prepared for,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

The record-breaking mission took astronauts around the moon for the first time in over 50 years.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

By mid-March, alarming snow deficits all over the Western states were capped off by a record-breaking heat wave that melted much of the remaining snowpack.

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

This time around I’m fully prepared to make my record-breaking go smoothly.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan