fleißigsten

Fleißigsten is the plural superlative form of the German adjective fleißig, meaning diligent or hardworking. It denotes the group that is most diligent within a defined set and is most often used with a definite determiner, for example: die fleißigsten Mitarbeiter, die fleißigsten Schüler. The form can also appear in other cases: der fleißigsten Mitarbeiter (genitive), den fleißigsten Mitarbeitern (dative).

Grammatically, fleißig is the positive form meaning diligent; fleißiger is the comparative form (more diligent); fleißigsten is the superlative form used in plural contexts. In the attributive position before a noun, the ending -sten marks the superlative after a definite article or determiner: die fleißigsten Arbeiter. In contrast, the singular superlative would be fleißigste (der fleißigste Mann, die fleißigste Lehrerin). The adverbial superlative of the adjective is usually formed with am: am fleißigsten, as in Sie arbeitet am fleißigsten.

Usage notes: fleißigsten typically appears in descriptive contexts that compare groups within a specific frame, such as teams, classes, or departments. It can be contrasted with synonyms like eifrig, arbeitsam, or gewissenhaft, though each term carries its own nuance (diligence, zeal, reliability).

Etymology: fleißig derives from the noun Fleiß (diligence) with the adjectival suffix -ig, forming a standard German adjective. The word has historical roots in Middle High German and has developed in parallel with related Germanic terms for industriousness.

See also: diligent, industrious, Arbeitsam.