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

Forbes Global Properties is the invitation-only network of top-tier brokerages worldwide and the exclusive real estate partner of Forbes. — Natalie Hoberman, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026

The base model gets a pair of leaf springs out at the 17-in alloy wheels, while the mid- and top-tier variants use a Cruisemaster XT coil suspension with dual shocks. — New Atlas, 17 July 2026

Ken Griffin, the billionaire founder and CEO of the hedge fund Citadel, has said South Florida needs more top-tier schools to continue attracting wealthy families to the area. — Luisa Yanez, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Only a handful of top-tier, large-sensor digital camera models have been approved under the program, including those made by ARRI, RED, Sony, and Panavision. — Laura Payne, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above