a condition, degree, amount, or compromise that produces the best possible result
most favourable or advantageous; best: optimum conditions
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
op•ti•mum /ˈɑptəməm/USA pronunciation
n., pl. -ma /-mə/USA pronunciation -mums, adj.
n. [countable]
adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025n. [countable]
- the most favorable point, degree, or amount of something for obtaining a certain result.
adj. [before a noun]
- most favorable or desirable;
best:optimum conditions for growth.
op•ti•mum
(op′tə məm),USA pronunciation n., pl. -ma (-mə),USA pronunciation -mums, adj.
n.
adj.
n.
- the best or most favorable point, degree, amount, etc., as of temperature, light, and moisture for the growth or reproduction of an organism.
- the greatest degree or best result obtained or obtainable under specific conditions.
adj.
- most favorable or desirable;
best:optimum conditions.
- Latin: noun, nominal use of neuter of optimus best, suppletive superlative of bonus good
- 1875–80
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged ideal, perfect, optimal.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'optimum' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
beam
- biotic potential
- cost-effective
- dosage
- dynamite
- exposure meter
- fast track
- fine-tune
- flush
- game theory
- incubator
- least squares
- minimum-access programming
- optimal
- optimism
- optimist
- optimum population
- optimum programming
- orthomolecular
- progression
- set point
- speed
- tune
- welfare economics