top-tier

adjective

ˈtäp-ˈtir 

: of the highest level or rank with regard to quality, reputation, or importance

Top-tier wines are the result of artisanal production techniques that demand rigorous attention to detail and, on occasion, financial sacrifice.

—Daniel Sogg

In general, the top-tier schools measure their success by the salaries that their graduates earn …

—Peter Baida

… leave fellow Republicans open to attack on what's shaping up as a top-tier issue in the 2008 elections.

—Mark Hertsgaard

Yes, this Kansas team is loaded with top-tier talent …

—Joe Posnanski

Kemp's first objective, his handlers said, was to establish himself as a top-tier contender.

—Lucy Howard>

Examples of top-tier in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This year, the growth of the sector has enabled MrBeast, Dude Perfect and other top-tier creators to get a spotlight for marketers independent from and in addition to YouTube’s event. —Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2025

Workstation-Specific Tests Above all, the Mac Studio is built for top-tier performance and is tailor-made for workstation applications. —PCMAG, 11 Mar. 2025

For tickets purchased on or after May 28, Southwest customers in all but the top-tier fare class will have to pay to check bags, though there will be exceptions. —Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2025

Honor Watch 5 Ultra Honor announced what could be a top-tier Android smartwatch for 2025 at MWC. —Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above