crème de la crème

noun

ˈkrem-də-lä-ˈkrem 

-lə-

: the very best

Synonyms of crème de la crème

• best
• Hall of Fame
• cream of the crop
• upper crust
• nobility
• choice
• cream
• quality
• pink
• priesthood
• elect
• corps d'elite
• royalty
• aristocracy

Examples of crème de la crème in a Sentence

a list of titles that represents the crème de la crème of the multitude of books published over the past year

Recent Examples on the Web

CalArts has always been there and is still the creme de la creme. — Rosemary Rossi, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025

The creme de la creme is SpaceX’s satellite business. — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 14 June 2026

Every year, the world’s leading rum experts gather to taste through the creme de la creme of the rum world. — Kate Dingwall, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024

Paris is a hotel city—there's no shortage of good ones—but the Hotel George V is the creme de la creme. — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, cream of the cream

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above