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They are synonyms, which means they mean the same thing, so you can use either; it makes no difference.

However, "optimal" can be made into an adverb, "optimally", but "optimum" cannot.

Both can function as an adjective but only "optimum" can be used as a noun.

In fact, there are some people who believe that "optimum" should only be used as a noun and it's only because people have repeatedly used it as an adjective (incorrectly) over a long period of time that it has become acceptable as an adjective.

So if you want to be safe, it would be best to only use "optimum" as a noun. But I'm sure no one would correct you if you used it as an adjective, especially because all dictionaries I've looked at list it as both.

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13y ago
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7y ago

The same explanation applies to both words, 'the best and most favourable'. Both stem from the same Latin word 'optimus' meaning 'best'. In the English language, optimal is just another word of same meaning, but used less often than optimum

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Q: What is the difference between optimal and optimum?
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