topnotch

Topnotch is an adjective meaning of the highest quality or degree of excellence. In common usage it describes people, objects, or performances that stand out for superior quality. The term is informal and widely understood in English-speaking countries. The standard written form in many dictionaries is top-notch (hyphenated), but the unhyphenated topnotch also appears, particularly in branding, headlines, or casual writing. In formal or academic prose, authors typically prefer alternatives such as excellent, outstanding, first-rate, or premier.

The phrase blends top with notch, a notch being a mark or indentation on a gauge, scale, or instrument to indicate a level. Top notch thus conveys the idea of the highest mark on the scale. The expression is widely attested in modern English, with the hyphenated form now prevailing in standard usage.

In practice, it usually precedes the noun it modifies, as in a top-notch performance or top-notch service. Some editors advise avoiding overuse, as with other evaluative terms, to maintain precision in formal writing.

See also: first-rate, excellent, superior, premium, outstanding.