summa cum laude

American  

[soom-uh koom lou-dey, -duh, -dee, suhm-uh kuhm law-dee] / ˈsʊm ə kʊm ˈlaʊ deɪ, -də, -di, ˈsʌm ə kʌm ˈlɔ di /

adverb

1. with highest praise: used in diplomas to grant the highest of three special honors for grades above the average.

---

summa cum laude British  

/ ˈsʊmɑː kʊm ˈlaʊdeɪ /

adverb

1. with the utmost praise: the highest of three designations for above-average achievement in examinations. In Britain it is sometimes used to designate a first-class honours degree Compare cum laude magna cum laude

---

Etymology

Origin of summa cum laude

First recorded in 1895–1900, summa cum laude is from Latin summā cum laude

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

summa cum laude

He graduated summa cum laude from New York University in 1948, and earned a master’s in economics two years later and a Ph.D in economics in 1977.

From Barron's ● Jun. 22, 2026

He graduated summa cum laude from Harvard in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

After graduation, though, she struggled to find her footing, eventually graduating summa cum laude from the City University of New York with a theater degree.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2026

I spoke with Charlotte Woodward, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and now works as Education Program Associate for National Down Syndrome Society.

From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2025

At Penn State he revealed himself to be a brilliant student, graduating summa cum laude.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson