different between optimal vs optimum

English

Etymology

From the Latin optimus +? -al.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??pt?m?l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??pt?m?l/

Adjective

optimal (not comparable)

1. The best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction.

   Finding the optimal balance between features and price is a common problem.

2. (artificial intelligence) Describing a search algorithm that always returns the best result.

Synonyms

• best, ideal, optimum

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Related terms

• suboptimal

Noun

optimal (plural optimals)

1. The best of its kind

French

Etymology

From the Latin optimum suffixed with -al.

Adjective

optimal (feminine singular optimale, masculine plural optimaux, feminine plural optimales)

1. optimal

Further reading

• “optimal” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?pti?ma?l/
• Rhymes: -a?l

Adjective

optimal (comparative optimaler, superlative am optimalsten)

1. optimal (perfect)
2. optimal (as good as possible under a given condition)
3. very good

Usage notes

The comparation forms are considered incorrect by some prescriptivists, and are widely restricted to less formal usage.

Declension

Further reading

• “optimal” in Duden online

Romanian

Etymology

From French optimal

Adjective

optimal m or n (feminine singular optimal?, masculine plural optimali, feminine and neuter plural optimale)

1. optimal

Declension

English

Etymology

From New Latin, neuter of Latin optimus (“best, very good”), from the root or in ops (“work”), omnis (“all”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /??pt?m?m/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??pt?m?m/

Noun

optimum (plural optima or optimums)

1. The best or most favorable condition, or the greatest amount or degree possible under specific sets of comparable circumstances.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Adjective

optimum (not comparable)

1. The best or most advantageous; surpassing all others.

   Synonyms: best, ideal, optimal

Translations

Further reading

• optimum in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “optimum”, in Online Etymology Dictionary
• optimum at OneLook Dictionary Search

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [?opt?mum]

Noun

optimum n

1. optimum

Declension

Related terms

Further reading

• optimum in P?íru?ní slovník jazyka ?eského, 1935–1957
• optimum in Slovník spisovného jazyka ?eského, 1960–1971, 1989

Latin

Adjective

optimum

1. accusative masculine singular of optimus
2. nominative neuter singular of optimus
3. accusative neuter singular of optimus
4. vocative neuter singular of optimus

Polish

Etymology

From Latin optimum.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?p?ti.mum/

Noun

optimum n

1. optimum (the best or most favorable condition)

Declension

Related terms

• (noun) optymalno??
• (adjective) optymalny
• (adverb) optymalnie

Further reading

• optimum in Wielki s?ownik j?zyka polskiego, Instytut J?zyka Polskiego PAN
• optimum in Polish dictionaries at PWN