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theory of the second best

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• second-best

secondbest (notcomparable)

1. Inferior to thebest (but better than other alternatives).
2. (economics) Characterized by one or more optimality conditions not being satisfiable.

secondbest (pluralsecond bests)

1. Something (or someone) that isinferior to thebest (but better than other alternatives).
   • 1956,Anthony Burgess,Time for a Tiger (The Malayan Trilogy), published1972, page38:

     And so makeshift andsecond-best have continued.

   • 1970, Johnny Christopher, Mark James, Wayne Carson, “Always On My Mind”, performed by Brenda Lee:

     If I made you feelsecond best / Well I'm sorry I was blind

2. (economics) A situation where one or more optimality conditions cannot be satisfied.

• come off second best
• third best

• first loser

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