Standard Lemma guide

finest

adj · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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/ˈfaɪnɪst/
US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET: F AY1 N AH0 S T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

adj

Meaning 1

superlative form of fine: most fine

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, superlative

Examples

This is the finest wine you can get here.
Use the finest sandpaper available.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 2

Police officers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, informal, plural, plural-only

Qualifier: often preceded by the

Examples

Fifty of New York's finest were on hand for security.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: city's finest

Antonyms: none provided

noun

Meaning 3

Members of the military.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, informal, plural, plural-only

Examples

1977-1980, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure Told him I'd had a fun time with a sailor & he said, "Oh no! Are you corrupting our country's finest?"

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

Dutch: fijnst — superlative of fine
Sanskrit: प्रवर (pravara) — superlative of fine

Word forms

Inflections and variants

No separate word forms were provided.

Word family

Derived and related words

Derived: finest hour, of the finest water, the finest

Related: bravest, Officer Friendly

Semantic map

Other relationships

Sources

Where this information comes from

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Real reading context

Examples

Meaning relationships

Examples

Meaning relationships

Examples

Meaning relationships

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