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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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɒptɪməl/
General-American:/ˈɑptɪməl/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:AA1 P T AH0 M AH0 L
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
The best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: not-comparable
Examples
Finding the optimal balance between features and price is a common problem.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The best of its kind
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adjective satellite
Meaning 3
most desirable possible under a restriction expressed or implied
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
an optimum return on capital
optimal concentration of a drug
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: optimum
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h1ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h1épsder. Proto-Indo-European *h1epi Proto-Indo-European *-tm̥mos ? Latin optimus English -al English optimal From Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al.
Across languages
Translations
31 source translations are retained for this English entry.
