What is the term for indicating the greatest degree in quality or quantity among items or persons?

The term that indicates the greatest degree in quality or quantity among items or persons is "superlative." In grammar, superlative forms are used to express the highest level of a particular quality, often formed by adding "-est" to an adjective or using "most" before it. For example, in the phrase "the tallest building," "tallest" serves as the superlative form of the adjective "tall," showing that this building has more height than all others. This term is crucial in comparative linguistics, as it allows for distinct classifications of estimates or characteristics, helping to articulate differences in magnitude or intensity effectively.

Other terms, such as comparative, are used to express differences between two items rather than identifying the highest quality or quantity. Definitive speaks more to clarity or unambiguity, and exemplary refers to something that serves as a model or example. Thus, superlative is the precise term for denoting the utmost measure among a set.