Standard Lemma guide

optimum

adj · noun · 5 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

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈɑptɪməm/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɒptɪməm/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AA1 P T AH0 M AH0 M Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

The best or most advantageous; surpassing all others.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • optimum conditions for climbing

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: best, ideal, optimal

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The best or most favorable condition, or the greatest amount or degree possible under specific sets of comparable circumstances.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Any long period of time marked by a persistently warm climate; a climatic optimum.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: biology, climatology, geography, geology, history, human-sciences, natural-sciences, paleontology, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

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: optimal

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

most favorable conditions or greatest degree or amount possible under given circumstances

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: good, goodness

History

Etymology

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

Across languages

Translations

20 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: оптимален (optimalen) — best or most advantageous
  • French: optimal — best or most advantageous
  • Galician: óptimo — best or most advantageous
  • Polish: optymalny — best or most advantageous
  • Polish: najkorzystniejszy — best or most advantageous
  • Portuguese: ótimo — best or most advantageous
  • Spanish: óptimo — best or most advantageous
  • Swedish: optimal — best or most advantageous
  • Bulgarian: оптимум (optimum) — the best or most favorable condition
  • French: optimum — the best or most favorable condition
  • Galician: óptimo — the best or most favorable condition
  • German: Optimum — the best or most favorable condition
  • Icelandic: kjörgildi — the best or most favorable condition
  • Icelandic: besta gildi — the best or most favorable condition
  • Icelandic: kjörstaða — the best or most favorable condition
  • Italian: ottimo — the best or most favorable condition
  • Māori: tino arotau — the best or most favorable condition
  • Polish: optimum — the best or most favorable condition
  • Spanish: óptimum — the best or most favorable condition
  • Swedish: optimum — the best or most favorable condition