1
: of or relating to first class
2
: of the highest quality
a first-class meal
first-class
adverb
: the first or highest group in a classification: such as
a
: the highest of usually three classes of travel accommodations
b
: a class of mail that comprises letters, postcards, or matter sealed against inspection
Synonyms
Adjective
- A-OK
- A1
- awesome
- bang-up
- banner
- beautiful
- blue-chip
- blue-ribbon
- boffo
- bonny [chiefly British]
- bonnie
- boss [slang]
- brag
- brave
- bully
- bumper
- capital
- choice
- classic
- cool [slang]
- corking
- crackerjack
- cracking
- dandy
- divine
- dope [slang]
- down [slang]
- dynamite
- excellent
- fab
- fabulous
- famous
- fantabulous [slang]
- fantastic
- fine
- first-rate
- first-string
- five-star
- four-star
- frontline
- gangbusters
- gangbuster
- gilt-edged
- gilt-edge
- gone [slang]
- grand
- great
- groovy
- heavenly
- high-class
- hot
- hype [slang]
- immense
- jim-dandy
- keen
- lovely
- marvelous
- marvellous
- mean
- neat
- nifty
- noble
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- out-of-sight [slang]
- par excellence
- peachy
- peachy keen
- phat [slang]
- prime
- primo [slang]
- prize
- prizewinning
- quality
- radical [slang]
- righteous [slang]
- sensational
- slick
- splendid
- stellar
- sterling
- superb
- superior
- superlative
- supernal
- swell
- terrific
- tip-top
- top
- top-notch
- top-of-the-line
- top-shelf
- topflight
- topping [chiefly British]
- unsurpassed
- wizard [chiefly British]
- wonderful
Examples of first-class in a Sentence
Adjective
a first-class production of a classic American musical
Recent Examples on the Web
Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 10 May 2024
After two years of falling behind JetBlue, Delta is once again the apple of first-class flyers’ eyes, ranking No. 1 in customer satisfaction for first-class and business customers on J.D. Power’s annual North America airline satisfaction study.
—Laura Bratton, Quartz, 8 May 2024
Travelers on The Duluth Zephyr are treated to a taste of what was, along with slightly more modern perks — including the option to purchase a ticket in the first-class, SkyView Dome Car.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2024
For a luxury experience, book your stay at the oceanfront Omni Amelia Island Resort, which offers nine on-site restaurants and two first-class golf courses.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 6 May 2024
The whole thing, a first-class ticket on an exhilarating professional freight train ride.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2024
The new first-class service was developed in partnership with the Jet.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2024
Business trips can conjure up images of fancy first-class tickets to major cities or staying at a Hilton in a small town about 20 minutes from the airport.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2024
Yes, the volume of first-class mail has been on the decline, but the U.S. Postal Service still sells about 12.5 billion stamps annually.
—Andrea Valdez, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2024
Frank E. Lockwood, arkansasonline.com, 20 Apr. 2024
The college, open to all students, begins its first classes in the fall.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024
Each — Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s first class — has a real shot at landing on an All-Rookie team.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Stamp prices last increased in January of this year, the third hike in 12 months that pushed up first class stamps to the current 68 cents.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
The airline is also trying to build better customer experiences, including launching new business class and first class offerings on its Boeing 777s in 2024 and 2025.
—Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 28 Mar. 2024
The service was operated on two Airbus A318 aircraft that BA purchased specially for the route, and each was fitted out entirely with first class seats.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024
Almost half of those will be reserved for first class passengers.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
The first class is in public speaking (Feb. 12–March 24) followed by a class in nutrition (March 25–April 28), and, finally, an introduction to cultural anthropology (April 29–June 9).
—Nicole Gregory, Orange County Register, 1 Feb. 2024
Adjective
But nobody would dispute the notion that the Big 12 regular season is a first-class meat grinder that will punish the weak and vulnerable.
—Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 10 May 2024
After two years of falling behind JetBlue, Delta is once again the apple of first-class flyers’ eyes, ranking No. 1 in customer satisfaction for first-class and business customers on J.D. Power’s annual North America airline satisfaction study.
—Laura Bratton, Quartz, 8 May 2024
Travelers on The Duluth Zephyr are treated to a taste of what was, along with slightly more modern perks — including the option to purchase a ticket in the first-class, SkyView Dome Car.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2024
For a luxury experience, book your stay at the oceanfront Omni Amelia Island Resort, which offers nine on-site restaurants and two first-class golf courses.
—Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 6 May 2024
The whole thing, a first-class ticket on an exhilarating professional freight train ride.
—Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 May 2024
The new first-class service was developed in partnership with the Jet.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2024
Business trips can conjure up images of fancy first-class tickets to major cities or staying at a Hilton in a small town about 20 minutes from the airport.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2024
Yes, the volume of first-class mail has been on the decline, but the U.S. Postal Service still sells about 12.5 billion stamps annually.
—Andrea Valdez, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2024
Noun
In 2004, he was named dean of the new University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, helping to welcome its first class of students in 2005.
—Frank E. Lockwood, arkansasonline.com, 20 Apr. 2024
The college, open to all students, begins its first classes in the fall.
—Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 19 Apr. 2024
Each — Mike Dunleavy Jr.’s first class — has a real shot at landing on an All-Rookie team.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024
Stamp prices last increased in January of this year, the third hike in 12 months that pushed up first class stamps to the current 68 cents.
—Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
The airline is also trying to build better customer experiences, including launching new business class and first class offerings on its Boeing 777s in 2024 and 2025.
—Lionel Lim, Fortune Asia, 28 Mar. 2024
The service was operated on two Airbus A318 aircraft that BA purchased specially for the route, and each was fitted out entirely with first class seats.
—Owen Bellwood / Jalopnik, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024
Almost half of those will be reserved for first class passengers.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024
The first class is in public speaking (Feb. 12–March 24) followed by a class in nutrition (March 25–April 28), and, finally, an introduction to cultural anthropology (April 29–June 9).
—Nicole Gregory, Orange County Register, 1 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'first-class.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near first-class
Cite this Entry
“First-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first-class. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
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