quintessential

1 of 2

adjective

quin·​tes·​sen·​tial ˌkwin-tə-ˈsen(t)-shəl How to pronounce quintessential (audio)
: perfectly typical or representative of a particular kind of person or thing
Jerry's your quintessential streetwise New Yorker …Kai Wright
This is the quintessential Los Angeles restaurant, casual but never frumpy, lively but not overheated …Harvey Steiman
Marx was the quintessential intellectual, remarkably detached from the real world.John Steele Gordon
: being a quintessence
His very faults were middling … It was not in his nature to be superlative in anything; unless, indeed, he was superlatively middling, the quintessential extract of mediocrity.George Eliot
quintessentially adverb
It is commonly accepted … that the rocking chair was an American invention, perhaps the most quintessentially American furniture form ever invented. Linda Rosenkrantz
There's no occupation more quintessentially macho than that of private detective. Cynthia Crossen

quintessential

2 of 2

noun

plural quintessentials
: a quintessential element : something that is a typical part or pure example
usually plural
The quintessentials—ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar, and mustard—that characterize classic American barbecue sauce can be found in this dish.Betty Rosbottom
The quintessentials of a culture become all the more noticeable and absorbing if they are perceived as in danger of disappearing or as an obstacle to progress that must disappear.Steve J. Stern

Did you know?

Quintessential and the Elements

The philosophers and scientists of the ancient world and the Middle Ages believed that the world we inhabit was entirely made up of four elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Aristotle added a fifth element, the aether or ether, by which he meant the material that fills the rest of space, mostly invisibly but sometimes taking the form of stars and planets. Many writers described the element as a kind of invisible light or fire. In the Middle Ages, it was referred to as the quinta essentia ("fifth element"). It isn't surprising that the quinta essentia came to stand for anything so perfect that it seemed to surpass the limitations of earth. Today we generally use quintessential rather freely to describe just about anything that represents the best of its kind.

Examples of quintessential in a Sentence

Adjective Helen of Troy was supposedly the quintessential beauty of the ancient world
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
That quintessential flavor of fall will cost you The site analyzed 116 supermarket and coffee-shop offerings this year, all flavored with pumpkin, pumpkin spice or both. Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 15 Oct. 2024 Surrounded by the Appalachian Mountains, the area offers its residents the quintessential feeling of small-town charm while luring visitors with its thriving brewery and winery scene. Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 12 Oct. 2024
Noun
Strong, stout and substantial in size, the fossil species featured the same powerful legs, long feet and lengthy tail quintessential of kangaroos today. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 29 June 2022 See all Example Sentences for quintessential 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quintessential.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1551, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quintessential was in 1551

Dictionary Entries Near quintessential

Cite this Entry

“Quintessential.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quintessential. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on quintessential

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!