state of the art
State of the art (adjective) means using the most advanced methods or technology currently available. Example: “The hospital has a state-of-the-art imaging suite.”
How to use state of the art
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs good and as modern as it currently gets.
Hyphenated before a noun (a state-of-the-art lab) and open after the verb (the lab is state of the art). Heavily overused in marketing, which has weakened it.
Do not hyphenate the noun phrase: "this is the state of the art", but "a state-of-the-art system".
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the gap
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This model represents the _____ in weather forecasting.
Etymology
From art in its older sense of a practical skill or craft, as in the arts and sciences, so the phrase means the current condition of the craft.
Related words
Rhymes for state of the art
See all rhymes for state of the art →Frequently asked questions
Is state of the art hyphenated?
Hyphenate it when it comes directly before the noun it describes: a state-of-the-art kitchen. Leave the hyphens out when it follows the verb: the kitchen is state of the art.
What is the difference between state of the art and cutting edge?
State of the art means the best that is currently established and available. Cutting edge, and more so bleeding edge, suggests something newer and less proven, still being pioneered and possibly still risky.
What is the meaning of state of the art?
"state of the art" (adjective) means using the most advanced methods or technology currently available.
What is another word for state of the art?
Other words for "state of the art" include cutting-edge, leading-edge, advanced, latest.