absolute

adjective

ab·so·lute ˈab-sə-ˌlüt

ˌab-sə-ˈlüt

: free from imperfection : perfect

… it is a most absolute and excellent horse.

William Shakespeare

: free or relatively free from mixture : pure

absolute alcohol

: outright, unmitigated

an absolute lie

: being, governed by, or characteristic of a ruler or authority completely free from constitutional or other restraint

absolute power

: having no restriction, exception, or qualification

an absolute requirement

absolute freedom

: positive, unquestionable

absolute proof

: independent of arbitrary standards of measurement

: relating to or derived in the simplest manner from the fundamental units of length, mass, and time

absolute electric units

: relating to, measured on, or being a temperature scale based on absolute zero

absolute temperature

specifically : kelvin

10° absolute

: fundamental, ultimate

absolute knowledge

: perfectly embodying the nature of a thing

absolute justice

grammar

: standing apart from a normal or usual syntactical relation with other words or sentence elements

the absolute construction this being the case in the sentence "this being the case, let us go"

of an adjective or possessive pronoun : standing alone without a modified substantive

Blind in "help the blind" and ours in "your work and ours" are absolute.

of a verb : having no object in the particular construction under consideration though normally transitive

Kill in "if looks could kill" is an absolute verb.

: being self-sufficient and free of external references or relationships

an absolute term in logic

absolute music

: being the true distance from an aircraft to the earth's surface

absolute altitude

absolute noun

absoluteness noun

Example Sentences

You can't predict the future with absolute certainty. I have absolute faith in her ability to get the job done. He swore an oath of absolute secrecy. When it comes to using computers, I'm an absolute beginner. The country is ruled by an absolute dictator. The country is an absolute monarchy. See More

Recent Examples on the Web The Dyson Airwrap Styler is an absolute game-changer, having won Best of Beauty Awards two years in a row (Breakthrough in 2019 and Splurge in 2020).

Sarah Han And Angela Trakoshis, Allure, 28 Nov. 2022 This is our absolute favorite robot vacuum if money is no object.

Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 28 Nov. 2022 Gene Hackman was at the absolute peak of his powers at this point.

Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 28 Nov. 2022 Nordstrom is one of our absolute must-shop stops for Cyber Monday.

Sarah Madaus, SELF, 28 Nov. 2022 This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist.

Victoria Bisset, Washington Post, 26 Nov. 2022 This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist.

Samara Lynn, ABC News, 26 Nov. 2022 This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist.

Camille C. Knox, CBS News, 26 Nov. 2022 This is the absolute worst part of being a publicist.

Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 26 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'absolute.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English absolut, borrowed from Latin absolūtus, from past participle of absolvere "to set free, acquit, finish, complete" — more at absolve

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler

The first known use of absolute was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century