superlative

American  

[suh-pur-luh-tiv, soo-] / səˈpɜr lə tɪv, sʊ- /

adjective

1. of the highest kind, quality, or order; surpassing all else or others; supreme; extreme.

   superlative wisdom.

   Synonyms:

   preeminent, magnificent, excellent, surpassing

2. Grammar. of, relating to, or noting the highest degree of the comparison of adjectives and adverbs, as smallest, best, and most carefully, the superlative forms of small, good, and carefully.

3. being more than is proper or normal; exaggerated in language or style.

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noun

superlatives plural

1. a superlative person or thing.

2. the utmost degree; acme.

3. Grammar.

   1. the superlative degree.

   2. a form in the superlative.

superlative British  

/ suːˈpɜːlətɪv /

adjective

1. of outstanding quality, degree, etc; supreme

2. grammar denoting the form of an adjective or adverb that expresses the highest or a very high degree of quality. In English the superlative degree is usually marked by the suffix -est or the word most, as in loudest or most loudly Compare positive comparative

3. (of language or style) excessive; exaggerated

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noun

1. a thing that excels all others or is of the highest quality

2. grammar the superlative form of an adjective

3. the highest degree; peak

superlative Cultural  

1. The form of an adjective indicating the greatest degree of the quality that the adjective describes. Best is the superlative form of good; fastest is the superlative form of fast; most charming is the superlative form of charming. The usual superlative takes the ending -est. (Compare comparative.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• superlativeness
  noun
• unsuperlativeness
  noun
• unsuperlative
  adjective
• superlatively
  adverb
• unsuperlatively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• superlatives
  plural

Etymology

Origin of superlative

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Late Latin superlātīvus, equivalent to Latin superlāt(us) “excessive, extravagant” (from super- super- + lātus, used as past participle of ferre “to carry, bring” ( see bear ¹) + -īvus -ive; replacing Middle English superlatif, from Old French, from Late Latin, as above

Explanation

A superlative is the highest attainable level or degree of something. As an adjective superlative means highest in quality. When your history test results are superlative, it means you've gotten a perfect score — you've done as well as can be done, if not better than everyone else. There are times, however, when a superlative is an exaggerated expression of praise, as when a movie reviewer gets carried away with compliments and says in January that this is "the best film of the year."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

superlative superlatives

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said the life jacket was an "incredibly iconic and poignant item with a superlative provenance".

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026

“I’m struggling to find the right superlative, because it is that extreme.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2026

“The more investors believe in this continuing productivity boom, the more money investors will make as the superlative returns for the leading Mag 7 become the superlative returns for the lagging Rest.”

From Barron's ● Jan. 19, 2026

With its work by Andy Warhol, Francesco Clemente, Jean-Michel Basquiat and many others, our critic called the show “a superlative entrée to the movers and shakers of the period.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 7, 2025

Word spread that Louie was primed for a superlative performance.

From "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand

This World Cup has heralded many superlatives about Messi.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Raymond James analyst Melissa Fairbanks said she’s “running out of superlatives to describe performance” for Micron.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 25, 2026

For Antonelli, the superlatives just keep on coming.

From BBC ● Jun. 7, 2026

Yet despite the superlatives, SpaceX is just a company.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

The Incorrigibles had been studying comparatives and superlatives.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• magnificent
• outstanding
• peerless
• superb
• transcendent
• unparalleled