Definitions

summa cum laude

[soom-uh koom lou-dey, -duh, -dee, suhm-uh kuhm law-dee] / ˈsʊm ə kʊm ˈlaʊ deɪ, -də, -di, ˈsʌm ə kʌm ˈlɔ di /

ADJECTIVE

with the greatest honor

Synonyms

WEAK

highest honors with highest honor with highest praise

ADVERB

with the greatest honor

Synonyms

WEAK

highest honors with highest honor with highest praise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

After graduation, though, she struggled to find her footing, eventually graduating summa cum laude from the City University of New York with a theater degree.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

She graduated summa cum laude from Duke University, where she studied public policy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

I spoke with Charlotte Woodward, who graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and now works as Education Program Associate for National Down Syndrome Society.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2025

I graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley; participated as a Fulbright scholar; and completed coursework for a Ph.D. at UC Davis.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 16, 2023

In 1937, at age eighteen, I graduated from West Virginia State summa cum laude with degrees in mathematics and French.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson