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absolute

adjective
ab·​so·​lute | \ ˈab-sÉ™-ËŒlüt How to pronounce absolute (audio) , ËŒab-sÉ™-ˈ How to pronounce absolute (audio) \

Definition of absolute

1a : 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
5a : 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
Other Words from absolute Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about absolute

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Other Words from absolute

absolute noun
absoluteness noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for absolute

Synonyms

arbitrary, autocratic (also autocratical), czarist (also tsarist), despotic, dictatorial, monocratic, tyrannical (also tyrannic), tyrannous

Antonyms

limited

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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 There’s a scene, about three quarters into the story, that’s an absolute stunner. — Boyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Madre': Film Review | Venice 2019," 30 Aug. 2019 Despite all that, the vast majority of today’s Muslim thinkers share the modern view that slavery is an absolute evil, whose abolition is to be welcomed. — The Economist, "Everywhere in chains," 27 Aug. 2019 The singer looked like an absolute goddess in an off-white, draped gown. — Carolyn Twersky, Seventeen, "Shawn Mendes Walked the MTV VMA Red Carpet Without Camila Cabello," 26 Aug. 2019 These need not be permanent or absolute, but innovation is not an unmitigated good. — Kentaro Toyama, The Conversation, "Bring on the technology bans!," 19 Aug. 2019 Gun rights advocates, though, see the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as absolute, and say any regulation creates a slippery slope that leads to the violation of their constitutional rights. — Michael K. Mcintyre, cleveland.com, "Most Americans want action on guns: What do we know about what works?," 11 Aug. 2019 Rules that fail tend to be too vague, too absolute, or simply never discussed. — Pamela Pavliscak, Quartz, "Forget AI ethics—treat technology like a new relationship instead," 2 Aug. 2019 That correlation is not absolute, though, as the masculine grammatical gender is used to refer to mixed groups (e.g., niños for any gender-mixed group of children). — Declan Leary, National Review, "‘Latinx’ Is a Stupid Word," 11 July 2019 No one Christ is absolute, no one vision definitive. — Washington Post, "Seeing Tintoretto is Venice is very nice. But so is seeing his works in a well-lit museum.," 27 June 2019

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.

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First Known Use of absolute

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

History and Etymology for absolute

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

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More Definitions for absolute

absolute

adjective
How to pronounce absolute (audio) How to pronounce absolute (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of absolute

: complete and total
: not limited in any way
: having unlimited power

See the full definition for absolute in the English Language Learners Dictionary

absolute

adjective
ab·​so·​lute | \ ˈab-sÉ™-ËŒlüt

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