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

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

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

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

Superlative reviews around the world ensured its place in the door-stopping canon of modern literary classics.

From New York Times • Dec. 7, 2020

Superlative feats have always thrilled average mortals, in part, perhaps, because they register as a victory for Team Homo Sapiens: they redefine the humanly possible.

From The New Yorker • Aug. 27, 2018

Superlative showmanship was on display in musical numbers from shows such as “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Rent” and “Gypsy.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2017

Newbury 2.30: Despite having to give away 3lb, Formosina can set the record straight after his flop in the Superlative Stakes last time.

From The Guardian • Sep. 17, 2010

Superlative and inexhaustible, Sir Pertinax; ha, ha, ha!—

From The Man of the World (1792) by Macklin, Charles

Related Words

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