Optimum

//ˈɑptɪməm// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Moderate ·College level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The best or most favorable condition, or the greatest amount or degree possible under specific sets of comparable circumstances.
  2. 2
    most favorable conditions or greatest degree or amount possible under given circumstances wordnet
  3. 3
    Any long period of time marked by a persistently warm climate; a climatic optimum.
Adjective
  1. 1
    The best or most advantageous; surpassing all others. not-comparable

    "optimum conditions for climbing"

Adjective
  1. 1
    most desirable possible under a restriction expressed or implied wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
bestoptimalbestcapitalchampionchoice

Example

More examples

"The data suggest that the optimum length of a lecture may be 30 instead of 60 minutes."

Etymology

From New Latin, neuter of Latin optimus (“best, very good”), from the root in ops (“work”) or omnis (“all”).

Related phrases

climatic optimumglobal optimumlocal optimum

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.