Dictionary sterlingExcellent quality

adjective

sterling

STUR-ling/stˈɝlɪŋ/

Of excellent quality or genuine worth.

The sturdy chair shows sterling workmanship under a heavy load.

Sterling workmanship: a beautifully made wooden chair remains straight and sound under a substantial test load, contrasted with a poorly constructed chair whose seat sags and joints separate under the same load.

Etymology

sterlingMiddle Englishan English silver penny; earlier origin disputed

A fixed standard for silver money broadened to anything tested and genuinely valuable.

More examples

She offers sterling advice.
His sterling efforts keep the project moving.

Forms

sterling

Similar words

admirable: Deserving respect or approval.
excellent: Of very high quality.