Words of Positivity
Browse the A to Z index4,633 ENTRIES

State-of-the-art

adj.capable, hopefulprofessional

What it means

Using the most advanced available methods or technology.

Reach for it when describing equipment or methods that use the most advanced currently available capability

The clinic installed state-of-the-art imaging equipment.

Choose between these

6
  • everyday

    cutting-edge

    when novelty and innovation are part of the appeal

    not when Cutting-edge can be experimental, while state-of-the-art may already be proven.

  • everyday

    latest

    when recency is the only claim you can support

    not when The newest model may not be the best available.

  • warm

    innovative

    when a fresh method solves the problem in a new way

    not when Innovation can be simple and low-tech rather than state-of-the-art.

  • professional

    advanced

    when capability exceeds ordinary or earlier versions

    not when Advanced is relative and does not claim the present highest level.

  • professional

    leading-edge

    when an organization is among the first to adopt new capability

    not when The phrase stresses market position more than the equipment's fitness.

  • formal

    modern

    when current design contrasts with an outdated predecessor

    not when Modern covers a broad era and is much weaker than highest available capability.

Said against

3
  • obsolete
  • outdated
  • primitive

It naturally appears in

3
  • state-of-the-art facility

    The state-of-the-art facility can sequence samples within hours.

  • state-of-the-art technology

    State-of-the-art technology reduced the scan time by half.

  • state-of-the-art equipment

    The trainees practiced on state-of-the-art equipment used in local hospitals.

Where this comes from

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.