different between optimist vs optimal

English

Etymology

From French optimiste, from Latin optimus (“best”).

Pronunciation

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

Noun

optimist (plural optimists)

1. a person who expects a favourable outcome
2. a believer in optimism

Antonyms

• pessimist

Derived terms

• optimistic

Related terms

• optimism
• optimal

Translations

Danish

Noun

optimist c (singular definite optimisten, plural indefinite optimister)

1. optimist

   Antonym: pessimist

Declension

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from French optimiste, from Latin optimus +? -ist.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??p.ti?m?st/
• Hyphenation: op?ti?mist
• Rhymes: -?st

Noun

optimist m (plural optimisten, diminutive optimistje n, feminine optimiste)

1. optimist

   Antonym: pessimist

Derived terms

• optimiste
• optimistisch

Related terms

• optimisme

Norwegian Bokmål

Noun

optimist m (definite singular optimisten, indefinite plural optimister, definite plural optimistene)

1. an optimist (a person who expects a favourable outcome, or a believer in optimism)

   Antonym: pessimist

Derived terms

• tidsoptimist

Related terms

• optimisme

References

• “optimist” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “optimist” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).

Norwegian Nynorsk

Noun

optimist m (definite singular optimisten, indefinite plural optimistar, definite plural optimistane)

1. an optimist (as above)

   Antonym: pessimist

Derived terms

• tidsoptimist

Related terms

• optimisme

References

• “optimist” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

Romanian

Etymology

From French optimiste.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /op.ti?mist/

Adjective

optimist m or n (feminine singular optimist?, masculine plural optimi?ti, feminine and neuter plural optimiste)

1. This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.

Declension

Swedish

Noun

optimist c

1. optimist

Declension

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