top-tier

adjective

\ ˈtäp-ˈtir

Definition of top-tier

: 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>