absolute

adjective

ab·​so·​lute ˈab-sə-ˌlüt  ˌab-sə-ˈlüt 

1

a

: free from imperfection : perfect

… it is a most absolute and excellent horse.

—William Shakespeare

b

: free or relatively free from mixture : pure

absolute alcohol

c

: outright, unmitigated

an absolute lie

2

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

absolute power

3

: having no restriction, exception, or qualification

an absolute requirement

absolute freedom

4

: positive, unquestionable

absolute proof

5

a

: independent of arbitrary standards of measurement

b

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

absolute electric units

c

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

absolute temperature

specifically : kelvin

10° absolute

6

: fundamental, ultimate

absolute knowledge

7

: perfectly embodying the nature of a thing

absolute justice

8

grammar

a

: 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"

b

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.

c

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.

9

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

an absolute term in logic

absolute music

10

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

absolute altitude

absolute noun

absoluteness noun

Synonyms

• arbitrary
• autocratic
• autocratical
• czarist
• tsarist
• tzarist
• despotic
• dictatorial
• monocratic
• tyrannical
• tyrannic
• tyrannous

Examples of absolute in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Beginning Sunday at the Philadelphia Eagles, the Steelers are about to embark upon an absolute gantlet. —Mike Defabo, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024

Early results for the fourth quarter of the year show preliminary data for October at a new record high for credit card debt in the month, in absolute terms. —Carleen Johnson | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 8 Dec. 2024

His absolute favorite thing to do is put on performances for people! —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024

Phenomenology is the study not of how the world might be perceived in the abstract—think of how René Descartes theorized an absolute gap between the mind and the body—but of our actual experience of the world. —Max Norman, The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing absolute

• ablative absolute
• absolute ceiling
• absolute convergence
• absolute humidity
• absolute magnitude
• absolute pitch
• absolute space
• absolute unit
• absolute value
• absolute zero

Kids Definition

absolute

adjective

ab·​so·​lute ˈab-sə-ˌlüt  ˌab-sə-ˈlüt 

1

a

: free from imperfection : perfect

b

: free or nearly free from mixture : pure

absolute alcohol

2

: free from restraint or limitation

absolute power

an absolute monarch

3

: having no exceptions

an absolute requirement

absolute freedom

4

: free from doubt : certain

absolute proof

5

a

: independent of standards of measurement that reflect individual choice : actual

absolute brightness of a star

absolute motion

b

: relating to or coming from the basic units of length, mass, and time

absolute electric units

c

: relating to the absolute-temperature scale

10° absolute

absoluteness

-ˌlüt-nəs

-ˈlüt-

noun

Medical Definition

absolute

adjective

ab·​so·​lute ˌab-sə-ˈlüt 

1

: pure or relatively free from mixture

absolute methanol

2

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

absolute temperature

Legal Definition

absolute

adjective

ab·​so·​lute

1

a

: free from qualification, condition, exception, or restriction

rights that even seem absolute have these qualifications

—Long v. Rockwood, 277 U.S. 142 (1928)

see also absolute ownership at ownership compare qualified

b

in the civil law of Louisiana : having or allowing no legal effect

an absolute impediment

2

: final and not liable to modification

—sometimes used after the word it modifies

divorce absolute

compare nisi

absolutely adverb