different between optimistic vs optimal

English

Etymology

optimist +? -ic

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??pt??m?st?k/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??pt??m?st?k/
• Rhymes: -?st?k

Adjective

optimistic (comparative more optimistic, superlative most optimistic)

1. Expecting the best in all possible ways.

   Antonym: pessimistic

2. (computing) Allowing other processes to perform transactions on the same data at the same time, and checking for conflicts only when changes need to be written back.

Derived terms

• optimistically
• overoptimistic, over-optimistic

Related terms

• optimal
• optimism
• optimist

Coordinate terms

• (expecting the best): enthusiasm, hopeful, positive, unabased, undeterred

Translations

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