"optimal" meaning in English

See optimal in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /ˈɒptɪməl/ [Received-Pronunciation], /ˈɑptɪməl/ [General-American] Audio: en-us-optimal.ogg [US], LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-optimal.wav [Southern-England]
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. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:af|la:optimus<t:best>|-al#Suffix|text=+|tree=1}} 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 [Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from", "terms" : [ { "alt" : "*h₁éps", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "status" : "inline", "children" : [ { "keyword_abbrev" : "der.", "keyword_label" : "Derived from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*h₁ep-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*h₁epi", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-tm̥mos", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "is_uncertain" : true, "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "optimus", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "la" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "-al#Suffix", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "en" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "optimal", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }" data-lang="en" data-title="optimal"> From Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al. Head templates: {{en-adj|-}} optimal (not comparable)
  1. The best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction. Tags: not-comparable Synonyms: best, ideal, optimum Translations (the best): օպտիմալ (ōptimal) (Armenian), լավագույն (lavaguyn) (Armenian), ամենալավ (amenalav) (Armenian), аптыма́льны (aptymálʹny) (Belarusian), оптимален (optimalen) (Bulgarian), òptim (Catalan), 最佳的 (zuì jiā de) (Chinese Mandarin), optimální (Czech), optimaalinen (Finnish), optimal (French), óptimo (Galician), optimal (German), άριστος (áristos) (Greek), βέλτιστος (véltistos) (Greek), אופטימלי (optimáli) (Hebrew), optimális (Hungarian), legjobb (Hungarian), legkedvezőbb (Hungarian), legelőnyösebb (Hungarian), 最適な (saiteki na) (alt: さいてきな) (Japanese), оңтайлы (oñtaily) (Kazakh), optymalny (Polish), ótimo [Brazil] (Portuguese), óptimo [Portugal] (Portuguese), оптима́льный (optimálʹnyj) (Russian), лу́чший (lúčšij) (Russian), наилу́чший (nailúčšij) (Russian), óptimo (Spanish), en fa (Spanish), optimal (Swedish), оптима́льний (optymálʹnyj) (Ukrainian)
    Sense id: en-optimal-en-adj-aSRcW0UI Categories (other): English entries referencing missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymology trees, English entries with etymon, English entries with incorrect language header, English links with manual fragments, English terms suffixed with -al, Entries with translation boxes, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with etymology trees, Pages with etymon, Terms with Armenian translations, Terms with Belarusian translations, Terms with Bulgarian translations, Terms with Catalan translations, Terms with Czech translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with Galician translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Hebrew translations, Terms with Hungarian translations, Terms with Japanese translations, Terms with Kazakh translations, Terms with Mandarin translations, Terms with Polish translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Swedish translations, Terms with Ukrainian translations Disambiguation of English entries referencing missing etymons: 92 8 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 92 8 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology trees: 92 8 Disambiguation of English entries with etymon: 91 9 Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 94 6 Disambiguation of English links with manual fragments: 88 12 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -al: 77 23 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 92 8 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 91 9 Disambiguation of Pages with etymology trees: 93 7 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 94 6 Derived forms: degree-optimal, infraoptimal, inoptimal, nonoptimal, optimalise, optimalism, optimality, optimally, Pareto-optimal, Pareto optimal, suboptimal, superoptimal, supraoptimal, time optimal control problem Related terms: opt, optimise, optimism, optimist, optimistic, optimize, optimum, option, optionable, optional, suboptimal

Noun

IPA: /ˈɒptɪməl/ [Received-Pronunciation], /ˈɑptɪməl/ [General-American] Audio: en-us-optimal.ogg [US], LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-optimal.wav [Southern-England] Forms: optimals [plural]
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. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:af|la:optimus<t:best>|-al#Suffix|text=+|tree=1}} 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 [Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from", "terms" : [ { "alt" : "*h₁éps", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "status" : "inline", "children" : [ { "keyword_abbrev" : "der.", "keyword_label" : "Derived from", "terms" : [ { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*h₁ep-", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword" : "derived" } ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*h₁epi", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*-tm̥mos", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "is_uncertain" : true, "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "optimus", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "la" }, { "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "-al#Suffix", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "en" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "English", "term" : "optimal", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "en" }" data-lang="en" data-title="optimal"> From Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al. Head templates: {{en-noun}} optimal (plural optimals)
  1. The best of its kind
    Sense id: en-optimal-en-noun-fDZgvlRM

Inflected forms

{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "pessimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "worst"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "la:optimus<t:best>",
        "4": "-al#Suffix",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁epi\nProto-Indo-European *-tm̥mos\n?\nLatin optimus\nEnglish -al\nEnglish optimal\n[Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*h₁éps\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₁ep-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₁epi\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tm̥mos\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"optimus\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-al#Suffix\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"optimal\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"optimal\">\nFrom Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁epi\nProto-Indo-European *-tm̥mos\n?\nLatin optimus\nEnglish -al\nEnglish optimal\nFrom Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "optimal (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "92 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "92 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "92 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "91 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "94 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "88 12",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English links with manual fragments",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "77 23",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -al",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "92 8",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "91 9",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "93 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "94 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Armenian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Belarusian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Catalan translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Czech translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Galician translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Greek translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hebrew translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hungarian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Japanese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Kazakh translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Mandarin translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Polish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Swedish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Ukrainian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "derived": [
        {
          "word": "degree-optimal"
        },
        {
          "word": "infraoptimal"
        },
        {
          "word": "inoptimal"
        },
        {
          "word": "nonoptimal"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimalise"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimalism"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimality"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimally"
        },
        {
          "word": "Pareto-optimal"
        },
        {
          "word": "Pareto optimal"
        },
        {
          "word": "suboptimal"
        },
        {
          "word": "superoptimal"
        },
        {
          "word": "supraoptimal"
        },
        {
          "word": "time optimal control problem"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              12,
              19
            ]
          ],
          "text": "Finding the optimal balance between features and price is a common problem.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              89,
              96
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2014 August 21, Susan Stafford Kelly, “What Say You”, in Our State:",
          "text": "Herewith, a brief primer in speaking basic North Carolinaese, meant to be read aloud for optimal effect.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction."
      ],
      "id": "en-optimal-en-adj-aSRcW0UI",
      "links": [
        [
          "best",
          "best"
        ],
        [
          "favourable",
          "favourable"
        ],
        [
          "desirable",
          "desirable"
        ],
        [
          "restriction",
          "restriction"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "word": "opt"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimise"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimism"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimist"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimistic"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimize"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimum"
        },
        {
          "word": "option"
        },
        {
          "word": "optionable"
        },
        {
          "word": "optional"
        },
        {
          "word": "suboptimal"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "best"
        },
        {
          "word": "ideal"
        },
        {
          "word": "optimum"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "code": "hy",
          "lang": "Armenian",
          "lang_code": "hy",
          "roman": "ōptimal",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "օպտիմալ"
        },
        {
          "code": "hy",
          "lang": "Armenian",
          "lang_code": "hy",
          "roman": "lavaguyn",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "լավագույն"
        },
        {
          "code": "hy",
          "lang": "Armenian",
          "lang_code": "hy",
          "roman": "amenalav",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "ամենալավ"
        },
        {
          "code": "be",
          "lang": "Belarusian",
          "lang_code": "be",
          "roman": "aptymálʹny",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "аптыма́льны"
        },
        {
          "code": "bg",
          "lang": "Bulgarian",
          "lang_code": "bg",
          "roman": "optimalen",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "оптимален"
        },
        {
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "lang_code": "ca",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "òptim"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "lang_code": "cmn",
          "roman": "zuì jiā de",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "最佳的"
        },
        {
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "lang_code": "cs",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "optimální"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "lang_code": "fi",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "optimaalinen"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "lang_code": "fr",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "optimal"
        },
        {
          "code": "gl",
          "lang": "Galician",
          "lang_code": "gl",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "óptimo"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "optimal"
        },
        {
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "lang_code": "el",
          "roman": "áristos",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "άριστος"
        },
        {
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "lang_code": "el",
          "roman": "véltistos",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "βέλτιστος"
        },
        {
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "lang_code": "he",
          "roman": "optimáli",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "אופטימלי"
        },
        {
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "optimális"
        },
        {
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "legjobb"
        },
        {
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "legkedvezőbb"
        },
        {
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "lang_code": "hu",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "legelőnyösebb"
        },
        {
          "alt": "さいてきな",
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "lang_code": "ja",
          "roman": "saiteki na",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "最適な"
        },
        {
          "code": "kk",
          "lang": "Kazakh",
          "lang_code": "kk",
          "roman": "oñtaily",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "оңтайлы"
        },
        {
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "lang_code": "pl",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "optymalny"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "lang_code": "pt",
          "sense": "the best",
          "tags": [
            "Brazil"
          ],
          "word": "ótimo"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "lang_code": "pt",
          "sense": "the best",
          "tags": [
            "Portugal"
          ],
          "word": "óptimo"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "optimálʹnyj",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "оптима́льный"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "lúčšij",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "лу́чший"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "nailúčšij",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "наилу́чший"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "óptimo"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "en fa"
        },
        {
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "lang_code": "sv",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "optimal"
        },
        {
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "lang_code": "uk",
          "roman": "optymálʹnyj",
          "sense": "the best",
          "word": "оптима́льний"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɒptɪməl/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɑptɪməl/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-optimal.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/0/02/En-us-optimal.ogg/En-us-optimal.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/En-us-optimal.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-optimal.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f5/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f5/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "optimal"
}

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "la:optimus<t:best>",
        "4": "-al#Suffix",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁epi\nProto-Indo-European *-tm̥mos\n?\nLatin optimus\nEnglish -al\nEnglish optimal\n[Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*h₁éps\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₁ep-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₁epi\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tm̥mos\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"optimus\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-al#Suffix\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"optimal\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"optimal\">\nFrom Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁epi\nProto-Indo-European *-tm̥mos\n?\nLatin optimus\nEnglish -al\nEnglish optimal\nFrom Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "optimals",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "optimal (plural optimals)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The best of its kind"
      ],
      "id": "en-optimal-en-noun-fDZgvlRM",
      "links": [
        [
          "best",
          "best"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɒptɪməl/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɑptɪməl/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-optimal.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/0/02/En-us-optimal.ogg/En-us-optimal.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/En-us-optimal.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-optimal.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f5/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f5/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "optimal"
}
{
  "antonyms": [
    {
      "word": "pessimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "worst"
    }
  ],
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "English entries with etymology texts",
    "English entries with etymology trees",
    "English entries with etymon",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English links with manual fragments",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁ep-",
    "English terms suffixed with -al",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 5 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymology trees",
    "Pages with etymon",
    "Terms with Armenian translations",
    "Terms with Belarusian translations",
    "Terms with Bulgarian translations",
    "Terms with Catalan translations",
    "Terms with Czech translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with Galician translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Hebrew translations",
    "Terms with Hungarian translations",
    "Terms with Japanese translations",
    "Terms with Kazakh translations",
    "Terms with Mandarin translations",
    "Terms with Polish translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Swedish translations",
    "Terms with Ukrainian translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "degree-optimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "infraoptimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "inoptimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "nonoptimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimalise"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimalism"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimality"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimally"
    },
    {
      "word": "Pareto-optimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "Pareto optimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "suboptimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "superoptimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "supraoptimal"
    },
    {
      "word": "time optimal control problem"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "la:optimus<t:best>",
        "4": "-al#Suffix",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁epi\nProto-Indo-European *-tm̥mos\n?\nLatin optimus\nEnglish -al\nEnglish optimal\n[Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*h₁éps\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₁ep-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₁epi\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tm̥mos\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"optimus\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-al#Suffix\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"optimal\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"optimal\">\nFrom Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁epi\nProto-Indo-European *-tm̥mos\n?\nLatin optimus\nEnglish -al\nEnglish optimal\nFrom Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "optimal (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "opt"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimise"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimism"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimist"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimistic"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimize"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimum"
    },
    {
      "word": "option"
    },
    {
      "word": "optionable"
    },
    {
      "word": "optional"
    },
    {
      "word": "suboptimal"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "Quotation templates to be cleaned"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              12,
              19
            ]
          ],
          "text": "Finding the optimal balance between features and price is a common problem.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              89,
              96
            ]
          ],
          "ref": "2014 August 21, Susan Stafford Kelly, “What Say You”, in Our State:",
          "text": "Herewith, a brief primer in speaking basic North Carolinaese, meant to be read aloud for optimal effect.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "The best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "best",
          "best"
        ],
        [
          "favourable",
          "favourable"
        ],
        [
          "desirable",
          "desirable"
        ],
        [
          "restriction",
          "restriction"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɒptɪməl/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɑptɪməl/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-optimal.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/0/02/En-us-optimal.ogg/En-us-optimal.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/En-us-optimal.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-optimal.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f5/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f5/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "word": "best"
    },
    {
      "word": "ideal"
    },
    {
      "word": "optimum"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "hy",
      "lang": "Armenian",
      "lang_code": "hy",
      "roman": "ōptimal",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "օպտիմալ"
    },
    {
      "code": "hy",
      "lang": "Armenian",
      "lang_code": "hy",
      "roman": "lavaguyn",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "լավագույն"
    },
    {
      "code": "hy",
      "lang": "Armenian",
      "lang_code": "hy",
      "roman": "amenalav",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "ամենալավ"
    },
    {
      "code": "be",
      "lang": "Belarusian",
      "lang_code": "be",
      "roman": "aptymálʹny",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "аптыма́льны"
    },
    {
      "code": "bg",
      "lang": "Bulgarian",
      "lang_code": "bg",
      "roman": "optimalen",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "оптимален"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "lang_code": "ca",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "òptim"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "lang_code": "cmn",
      "roman": "zuì jiā de",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "最佳的"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "lang_code": "cs",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "optimální"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "lang_code": "fi",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "optimaalinen"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "lang_code": "fr",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "optimal"
    },
    {
      "code": "gl",
      "lang": "Galician",
      "lang_code": "gl",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "óptimo"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "optimal"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "lang_code": "el",
      "roman": "áristos",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "άριστος"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "lang_code": "el",
      "roman": "véltistos",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "βέλτιστος"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "lang_code": "he",
      "roman": "optimáli",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "אופטימלי"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "optimális"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "legjobb"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "legkedvezőbb"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "lang_code": "hu",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "legelőnyösebb"
    },
    {
      "alt": "さいてきな",
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "lang_code": "ja",
      "roman": "saiteki na",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "最適な"
    },
    {
      "code": "kk",
      "lang": "Kazakh",
      "lang_code": "kk",
      "roman": "oñtaily",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "оңтайлы"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "lang_code": "pl",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "optymalny"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "lang_code": "pt",
      "sense": "the best",
      "tags": [
        "Brazil"
      ],
      "word": "ótimo"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "lang_code": "pt",
      "sense": "the best",
      "tags": [
        "Portugal"
      ],
      "word": "óptimo"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "roman": "optimálʹnyj",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "оптима́льный"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "roman": "lúčšij",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "лу́чший"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "roman": "nailúčšij",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "наилу́чший"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "óptimo"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "en fa"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "lang_code": "sv",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "optimal"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "lang_code": "uk",
      "roman": "optymálʹnyj",
      "sense": "the best",
      "word": "оптима́льний"
    }
  ],
  "word": "optimal"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "English entries with etymology texts",
    "English entries with etymology trees",
    "English entries with etymon",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English links with manual fragments",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Latin",
    "English terms derived from Proto-Indo-European",
    "English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₁ep-",
    "English terms suffixed with -al",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 5 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymology trees",
    "Pages with etymon"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "la:optimus<t:best>",
        "4": "-al#Suffix",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁epi\nProto-Indo-European *-tm̥mos\n?\nLatin optimus\nEnglish -al\nEnglish optimal\n[Appendix:Glossary#derived_terms|Derived]] from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"alt\" : \"*h₁éps\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"status\" : \"inline\", \"children\" : [ { \"keyword_abbrev\" : \"der.\", \"keyword_label\" : \"Derived from\", \"terms\" : [ { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₁ep-\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword\" : \"derived\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*h₁epi\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*-tm̥mos\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"is_uncertain\" : true, \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"optimus\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"-al#Suffix\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"en\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"English\", \"term\" : \"optimal\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"en\" }\" data-lang=\"en\" data-title=\"optimal\">\nFrom Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nProto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁épsder.\nProto-Indo-European *h₁epi\nProto-Indo-European *-tm̥mos\n?\nLatin optimus\nEnglish -al\nEnglish optimal\nFrom Latin optimus (“best”) + English -al.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "optimals",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "optimal (plural optimals)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "The best of its kind"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "best",
          "best"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɒptɪməl/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈɑptɪməl/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-optimal.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/0/02/En-us-optimal.ogg/En-us-optimal.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/En-us-optimal.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-optimal.wav",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f5/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/f/f5/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-optimal.wav.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "Southern-England"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "optimal"
}

Download raw JSONL data for optimal meaning in English (12.9kB)

{
  "called_from": "page/2530",
  "msg": "skipping string in the middle of translations: </table></div></div>\n\n",
  "path": [
    "optimal"
  ],
  "section": "English",
  "subsection": "adjective",
  "title": "optimal",
  "trace": ""
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-08-02 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-07-06 using wiktextract (d9fa233 and 9e92f4b). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.