Word meaning
quintessential
adjective · kwin-tuh-SEN-shul
What does quintessential mean?
Quintessential means representing the most perfect or typical example of something.
Quintessential in a sentence
“A red double-decker bus is the quintessential London image.”
Synonyms for quintessential
- typical
- classic
- archetypal
Where does quintessential come from?
From Medieval Latin quinta essentia, "fifth essence," the element thought to lie beyond earth, air, fire, and water.
How to remember quintessential
- Say it out loud a few times: kwin-tuh-SEN-shul.
- Write one sentence of your own using quintessential, about something that happened to you today.
- Quiz yourself tomorrow, in three days, and next week. Spaced reviews are what make new words stick.
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