optimal

adjective

op·​ti·​mal ˈäp-tə-məl 

: most desirable or satisfactory : optimum

the optimal use of class time

the optimal dosage of medication for a patient

conditions for optimal development

optimality

ˌäp-tə-ˈma-lə-tē 

noun

optimally

ˈäp-tə-mə-lē 

adverb

Examples of optimal in a Sentence

He keeps his engine tuned for optimal performance.

Under optimal conditions, these plants grow quite tall.

Recent Examples on the Web

Enforcing rigid standards prematurely—as early Space Development Agency (SDA) mandates demonstrated—can freeze sub-optimal designs and throttle rapid tech iteration. — Rohit Jha, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

When females can’t make the optimal choice Call traits are linked to offspring fitness in gray tree frogs. — Claire Therese Hemingway, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

The experience runs every Saturday and Sunday from September 19 through November 8 for optimal leaf-peeping. — Elleanna Revell, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026

It's also designed for optimal on-device AI functionality, backstopped by a Qualcomm Adreno GPU. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

optim(um) + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing optimal

• sub-optimal

Kids Definition

optimal

adjective

op·​ti·​mal ˈäp-tə-məl 

: optimum entry 2

optimally

-mə-lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

optimal

adjective

op·​ti·​mal ˈäp-tə-məl 

: most desirable or satisfactory : optimum

optimal concentrations of a drug

optimality

ˌäp-tə-ˈmal-ət-ē 

noun

plural optimalities

optimally

-mə-lē 

adverb