Verlässlichsten

Verlässlichsten is the superlative form of the German adjective verlässlich, meaning the most reliable or the most trustworthy. It is used to describe the highest degree of reliability among a group of objects, people, or sources. The form functions as an adjective and is declined according to gender, number, and case; it is not a noun.

Usage and examples: The expression commonly appears with definite articles or plural nouns, for example: Die verlässlichsten Quellen wurden überprüft. Er ist der verlässlichste Partner im Team. In a context that emphasizes degree, one may also use am verlässlichsten as an adverbial form, as in Die Daten wurden am verlässlichsten erhoben.

Grammar notes: The base form verlässlich is a descriptive adjective meaning reliable. The superlative suffix -sten attaches to the stem, and endings change with article and noun: Die verlässlichsten Berichte (nominative plural with definite article). Without a definite article, the form can appear as verlässlichste Berichte, with appropriate declension in other cases. The related comparative form is verlässlicher.

Etymology and related terms: Verlässlich derives from the German prefix ver- combined with a stem related to reliability areal in usage; the related noun is Verlässlichkeit (reliability, dependability). Common synonyms in German include zuverlässig, vertrauenswürdig, and glaubwürdig.

See also: Verlässlichkeit, zuverlässig, Vertrauenswürdigkeit.