Phrase guide

summum bonum

noun · 2 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: /ˌsʌməm ˈbəʊnəm/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌsʊməm ˈbɒnəm/
  • General-American: /ˌsʊməm ˈbɑnəm/
  • General-American: /ˌsʌməm ˈboʊnəm/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The greatest good; the ultimate importance; the singular end which human beings ought to pursue.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: summum malum

2

noun

Meaning 2

the supreme good in which all moral values are included or from which they are derived

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

Learned borrowing from Latin summum bonum.