second best

Adjective

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

Noun

 * 1) Something (or someone) that is inferior to the best (but better than other alternatives).
 * 2)  A situation where one or more optimality conditions cannot be satisfied.
 * 1)  A situation where one or more optimality conditions cannot be satisfied.
 * 1)  A situation where one or more optimality conditions cannot be satisfied.