What does bestest mean?
"Bestest" is an informal, nonstandard superlative of "good," meaning the very best of all. Grammatically it is a so-called double superlative: "best" is already the superlative form of "good," and adding the suffix "-est" creates a form that standard English does not recognize. Despite this, "bestest" is widespread in casual speech, particularly among children and in affectionate or playful adult usage, as in "you're my bestest friend." Its appeal lies in its exaggerated, warm-hearted tone — it signals enthusiasm rather than precision, which is exactly why writers sometimes put it in a character's mouth to convey naivety, humor, or endearment. The word is well established in dictionaries as an acknowledged colloquialism, but style guides consistently recommend "best" in formal writing. Knowing "bestest" is useful less for composing polished prose than for understanding tone: when someone chooses it deliberately, they are trading grammatical correctness for charm and emphasis.
adjectiveA nonstandard, informal superlative of 'good' meaning the very best; used chiefly in childlike or playful speech for emphasis.
- Informal, nonstandard superlative of 'good': better than best, used playfully or childishly for extra emphasis.
"You're my bestest friend in the whole wide world."
"She declared this birthday cake the bestest she had ever tasted."
"Come sit next to me — you're my bestest friend forever."
'Bestest' breaks English grammar on purpose — it stacks two superlatives together just to make love sound bigger.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bestest
"Bestest" is formed within English by adding the regular superlative suffix "-est" to "best," itself the inherited superlative of "good." The root goes back to Old English "betst" (a variant of "bet(e)st"), from Proto-Germanic *batizô, related to "better" and ultimately to the same Indo-European comparative base seen in Latin "bonus." The resulting double superlative has long existed in colloquial and child language, though exact first attestation is uncertain.
How bestest is actually used
Strictly informal and nonstandard; acceptable in affectionate, humorous, or child-directed contexts but avoided in formal writing and speech. It is formed by adding the regular superlative suffix '-est' to 'best', which is already superlative — hence its 'double superlative' character.
Easily confused with bestest
'Best' is the standard superlative of good used in all registers, while 'bestest' is a nonstandard double superlative reserved for playful or childish emphasis.