first class

adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"first-class" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“first class” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adjective - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
11
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Belonging to the best or top group in a system of classification.

Key facts for first class
PropertyValue
Headwordfirst class
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
Letters11
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “first class” sits in English frequency

first class falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for first class is 11 letters long, classified as an adjective. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

No misspelling variants are generated for first class in our index, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

No explicit etymology string is stored for this entry, leaving phoneme-to-grapheme mapping as the best guide to its spelling rather than a borrowing history. The correct English form is first class, spelled F-I-R-S-T- -C-L-A-S-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Belonging to the best or top group in a system of classification.
  2. 2
    Of, or relating to the most luxurious and expensive class of accommodation on a train, ship, hotel, etc.
  3. 3
    Of, or relating to a class of mail to be delivered before second class.
  4. 4
    Great, very enjoyable.
  5. 5
    Of or relating to a first class match.
  6. 6
    Of or relating to a treatment like that for a first-class object.

This word in other languages

première classe(Français)erstklassig(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "first class"?
"first class" is spelled F-I-R-S-T- -C-L-A-S-S.
What does "first class" mean?
As an adjective, "first class" means: Belonging to the best or top group in a system of classification.
What language does "first class" come from?
"first class" is a English word. PlainSpell covers definitions, pronunciations, and spelling data across English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, and German.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “first class”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is F-I-R-S-T- -C-L-A-S-S - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list