Överlägset

Överlägset is a Swedish word used as both an adjective and an adverb to indicate clear superiority or dominance relative to others. As an adjective, it describes something or someone with higher quality, greater ability, or a higher rank than a comparison target, for example a person with överlägsen kompetens or an överlägsen prestation. The noun form is överlägsenhet, meaning superiority or preeminence.

As an adverb, överlägset modifies the verb to express the extent of superiority, often translated as “by far” or “overwhelmingly.” For example, hon vann överlägset (she won by a large margin) or resultatet var överlägset det bästa i studien (the result was by far the best in the study). In everyday language, överlägset conveys a strong, unequivocal advantage and is more emphatic than simply “bättre” or “dominant.”

Etymology and related forms: the word is a compound of över (‘above’) and lågsen, from the adjective lägsen/lägsen, meaning inferior or lowly. The related noun is överlägsenhet (superiority), and the related adjective is överlägsen.

Usage notes: överlägset is common in sports, competition, science, and evaluative contexts. It can carry a formal or neutral tone but may also feel blunt or hyperbolic if overused. In more reserved discourse, alternatives such as betydligt bättre (significantly better) or dominant can be used to soften the claim.

See also: överlägsenhet, dominans, överträffa.