second best
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English
Alternative forms
Adjective
second best (not comparable)
- Inferior to the best (but better than other alternatives).
- (economics) Characterized by one or more optimality conditions not being satisfiable.
Noun
second best (plural second bests)
- Something (or someone) that is inferior to the best (but better than other alternatives).
- 1956, Anthony Burgess, Time for a Tiger (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 38:
- And so makeshift and second-best have continued.
- 1970, Johnny Christopher, Mark James, Wayne Carson (lyrics and music), “Always On My Mind”, performed by Brenda Lee:
- If I made you feel second best / Well I'm sorry I was blind
- (economics) A situation where one or more optimality conditions cannot be satisfied.