first-class

adjective \ ˈfərs(t)-ˈklas \

|Updated on: 18 Jul 2018

Definition of first-class

1 : of or relating to first class

2 : of the highest quality

a first-class meal

—

first-class

adverb

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See first-class defined for kids

First Known Use of first-class

1819

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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first-class Synonyms

Phrases

out of this world, too much;

first class

noun

Definition of first class

: 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

See first class defined for English-language learners

See first class defined for kids

Recent Examples of first class from the Web

The food is incredible; the hiking, biking, and rafting are all first class; and the wine…oh, the wine.

— ac shilton, Outside Online, "The Food Adventures We Covet Most," 5 July 2018
Evans doesn’t come without baggage, medical and otherwise, but his production is first class.

— gregg doyel, Indianapolis Star, "Doyel: Tyreke Evans a risk worth taking as Pacers build Eastern Conference contender," 3 July 2018
The work done by these masons is first class in every respect.

— arthur hart, idahostatesman, "When Idaho’s frontier towns turned to brick, many looked nearby for kilns," 23 June 2018
Image We all dream of flying in first class, glass of prosecco in hand, away from the screaming children and armrest battles.

— New York Times, "Breaking Down the Frequent Flier Mile Programs," 12 June 2018
On opening day in August of 2015, around two dozen staff members greeted the very first class.

— daniel duane, WIRED, "How the Startup Mentality Failed Kids in San Francisco," 28 June 2018
In May the Food and Drug Administration approved the first class of drugs designed to prevent migraines by blocking the activity of CGRP.

— colleen stinchcombe, SELF, "Yes, Your Workouts Could Actually Be Triggering Your Migraines," 23 June 2018
Only five years earlier, in 1978, she had been selected to the first class of 35 astronauts—including six women—who would fly on the Space Shuttle.

— bonnie j. dunbar, Scientific American, "Sally Ride’s Legacy Lives On," 18 June 2018
Eichmann was drugged, dressed in an El Al uniform, seated in first class and passed off as a crew member who was ill.

— Washington Post, "Israel’s Mossad spy agency shrouded in mystery and mystique," 1 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'first class.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of first class

1616

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

FIRST-CLASS Defined for English Language Learners

first-class

adjective

Definition of first-class for English Language Learners

: of or relating to first class
: of the best quality : of the highest excellence

first class

noun

Definition of first class for English Language Learners

: the best of usually three kinds of service you can have when you travel
: a class of mail in the U.S. that includes letters and postcards
: a class of mail in the U.K. that includes letters and packages which are delivered sooner than ordinary second-class mail but cost more to send