Meanings
alternative sub-optimal
- not comparableWorse than optimal; of less than the highest standard or quality.
Near-synonym: submaximal
2 more examples
A quickly produced suboptimal solution to a problem is often more useful than an optimal one that takes a long time to produce.
"The way the consultation has been handled is suboptimal," she continued.
2023 October 4, Mel Holley, “Network News: Conservative MPs criticise ticket office closure plans”, in RAIL, number 993, page 23Synonyms: inoptimal, nonoptimal, submaximal
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveWorse than optimal; of less than the highest standard or quality.
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*upó
- Proto-Italic*supo
- Latinsub
- Latinsub-
- Englishsub-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁ep-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁éps
- Proto-Indo-European*h₁épi
- Latinoptimus
- Englishoptimal
- Englishsuboptimal
Translations
Czech suboptimální
- suboptimálníless than optimal
Finnish alioptimaalinen
- alioptimaalinenless than optimal
French suboptimal
- suboptimalless than optimal
German suboptimal
- suboptimalless than optimal
Greek υποβέλτιστος
- υποβέλτιστος (ypovéltistos)less than optimal
Indonesian suboptimal
- suboptimalless than optimal
Italian subottimale
- subottimaleless than optimal
Malay suboptimum
- suboptimumless than optimal
Romanian suboptimal
- suboptimalless than optimal
Russian неоптимальный
- неоптимальный (neoptimalʹnyj)less than optimal
Spanish subóptimo
- subóptimoless than optimal
Cite this entry
suboptimal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/suboptimal
“suboptimal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/suboptimal. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “suboptimal,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/suboptimal.
Source: suboptimal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.