summum bonum

American  

[soom-oom boh-noom, suhm-uhm boh-nuhm] / ˈsʊm ʊm ˈboʊ nʊm, ˈsʌm əm ˈboʊ nəm /

noun

Latin.

1. the highest or chief good.

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summum bonum British  

/ ˈsʊmʊm ˈbɒnʊm /

noun

1. the principle of goodness in which all moral values are included or from which they are derived; highest or supreme good

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Example Sentences

After all, if what is good for a nation is more important than what is good for a family, surely the greatest good, the secular summum bonum, is the good of the human race.

From Salon • Aug. 23, 2011

Hence the summum bonum necessarily consists in the prima Naturæ or perfect soundness of mind and body.

From History of Roman Literature from its Earliest Period to the Augustan Age. Volume II by Dunlop, John

If it be not in accordance with your ideas of the summum bonum, remember that it is not his.

From The Gay Adventure A Romance by Bird, Richard

What is the supreme good, the summum bonum?

From A Critical History of Greek Philosophy by Stace, W. T. (Walter Terence)

And we are still left to enquire: what is the summum bonum? what is happiness?

From A Critical History of Greek Philosophy by Stace, W. T. (Walter Terence)