best of breed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "best of breed" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe the highest quality or most effective option in a particular category or field. An example: "This software is considered the best of breed in its industry." Alternative expressions include "top-tier" and "leading choice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Are they best of breed?

The New York Times - Tech

Bon voyage, Tayaut, my best of breed!

The New Yorker

Eventually, they pick the overall best of breed.

The New York Times

The adana yogurtlu kebab is a best of breed.

The New York Times

But Saltzman called Lola the best of breed.

The New York Times - Sports

A "peace-of-mind" bundle offers the best of breed in both product and service.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

There has always been a battle between best-of-breed products and all-in-one products.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Combining education and training with best-of-breed technology may reduce social engineering risks and damages.

Procedia Manufacturing

The instruments, with their best-of-breed luminiscent needles, are as good as ever.

The New York Times

Apple's quality control is best-of-breed, even if its devices are far from perfect.

The Guardian - Opinion

Large companies can easily acquire best-of-breed partners to support an idea.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve this term for professional contexts involving procurement, technology or competitive evaluations where quality is the primary differentiator.

Common error

Do not use "best of breed" to describe human individuals in a general social setting. Because the term originates from animal livestock and dog shows, using it for people can sound overly clinical, corporate or unintentionally dehumanizing unless used in a specific sports or recruitment context.

Linguistic Context

In modern English, "best of breed" functions as a noun phrase or a compound adjective. According to Ludwig, it is frequently utilized to characterize the highest quality product or service within a specific category. When used as a modifier, it describes a specialized tool that performs its specific function better than more generalized competitors.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

35%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "best of breed" is a versatile and authoritative expression used to denote the highest quality within a specific niche. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, the phrase is essential in business and technology sectors to distinguish specialized, high-performing tools from broad, integrated suites. While grammatically straightforward, its impact is strongest when used to emphasize quality as the primary decision factor. Writers should remember to hyphenate the phrase when it acts as an adjective and to be mindful of its technical, professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

top-tier

refers to the highest level or ranking in a group

premier

emphasizes being first in status or importance

gold standard

suggests a benchmark of excellence by which others are judged

state-of-the-art

focuses specifically on the most recent and advanced stage of development

leading edge

highlights the most advanced or innovative position in a field

first-rate

a general descriptor for being of the best quality

top-notch

a slightly more informal way to describe high quality

par excellence

placed after a noun to indicate being the best example of its kind

unsurpassed

indicates that nothing else is better or greater

blue-ribbon

evokes a sense of award-winning or officially recognized excellence

FAQs

How do I use "best of breed" in a sentence?

You can use it as a noun phrase to indicate a winner, or as an adjective to describe quality. For example, "The startup aims to be the "top-tier" choice in its field" or "They opted for a "best of breed" approach for their cloud infrastructure."

What is the opposite of a "best of breed" solution?

The most common contrast is an "all-in-one" or "integrated suite" solution, where multiple tools are bundled together by a single vendor rather than selecting the best individual components from various providers.

Should "best of breed" be hyphenated?

Yes, if it precedes a noun to modify it (e.g., "a "best-of-breed product""). If it follows the noun, hyphens are usually unnecessary, as in "This software is considered "best of breed"."

What can I say instead of "best of breed"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "gold standard", "premier", or "first-rate".