quintessential

UK: /ˌkwɪntɪˈsɛnʃ^əl/ US: /ˌkwɪntəˈsɛnʃəl/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

quin•tes•sen•tial /ˌkwɪntəˈsɛnʃəl/  adj. [before a noun]

1. being or representing the most perfect type or example of something:
   It was quintessential politics-as-usual.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

quintessential / ˌkwɪntɪˈsɛnʃəl/ adjective

1. most typically representative of a quality, state, etc; perfect

ˌquintesˈsentially adverb

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

quin•tes•sence /kwɪnˈtɛsəns/   n. [countable* usually singular;
usually: the + ~]

1. the most perfect type or example of something:
   the quintessence of honesty.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

quin•tes•sence  (kwin tes′əns), n. 

1. the pure and concentrated essence of a substance.
2. the most perfect embodiment of something.
3. Philosophy (in ancient and medieval philosophy) the fifth essence or element, ether, supposed to be the constituent matter of the heavenly bodies, the others being air, fire, earth, and water.

• Medieval Latin quīnta essentia fifth essence
• 1400–50; Middle English

quin•tes•sen•tial  (kwin′tə sen′shəl), adj.  quin′tes•sen′tial•ly, adv.