top-tier

adjective

ˈtäp-ˈtir 

: of the highest level or rank with regard to quality, reputation, or importance

Top-tier wines are the result of artisanal production techniques that demand rigorous attention to detail and, on occasion, financial sacrifice.

—Daniel Sogg

In general, the top-tier schools measure their success by the salaries that their graduates earn …

—Peter Baida

… leave fellow Republicans open to attack on what's shaping up as a top-tier issue in the 2008 elections.

—Mark Hertsgaard

Yes, this Kansas team is loaded with top-tier talent …

—Joe Posnanski

Kemp's first objective, his handlers said, was to establish himself as a top-tier contender.

—Lucy Howard

Examples of top-tier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The site adds that top-tier cold plunge systems often deliver easier maintenance, better temperature control and a more consistent user experience than budget models. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 9 July 2026

True remote productivity is secured by building a watertight work-from-home ecosystem, and Amazon's Deals of the Day always has your back by dropping top-tier professional hardware to rock-bottom prices. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026

Northwestern University received more than 53,000 applications for the Class of 2029 and maintained an admission rate near 7%, underscoring sustained demand for a university that combines top-tier academics with Big Ten culture. — Dr. Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Now, the nation’s largest carriers are reconfiguring aircraft to expand premium seating, designing new fleets with larger premium cabins and investing billions in amenities that extend the top-tier travel treatment beyond their jetliners. — Rio Yamat, Fortune, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above