woman of unmatched beauty; peerless beauty
A set phrase describing a woman so beautiful that she is considered the most beautiful in the world or in an era. Often used in literary or dramatic contexts.
She was called a woman of peerless beauty.
The painting depicts a woman of unmatched beauty.
美人 is a general term for a beautiful woman, while 絶世の美女 emphasizes an extraordinary, once-in-an-era level of beauty.
絶世 means 'peerless' or 'matchless' and is used in other compounds like 絶世の名作 (peerless masterpiece).
A set phrase combining 絶世 (peerless, matchless) and 美女 (beautiful woman). The exact historical origin is uncertain, but it follows a common classical Chinese pattern of praising extraordinary beauty.