excellence

American  

[ek-suh-luhns] / ˈɛk sə ləns /

noun

1. the fact or state of excelling; superiority; eminence.

   his excellence in mathematics.

   Synonyms:

   distinction, transcendence, preeminence

2. an excellent quality or feature.

   Use of herbs is one of the excellences of French cuisine.

   Synonyms:

   virtue, merit

   Antonyms:

   inferiority

3. (usually initial capital letter) excellency.

---

excellence British  

/ ˈɛksələns /

noun

1. the state or quality of excelling or being exceptionally good; extreme merit; superiority

2. an action, characteristic, feature, etc, in which a person excels

---

Other Word Forms

• superexcellence noun

Etymology

Origin of excellence

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin excellentia; equivalent to excel + -ence

Example Sentences

“Hilary’s experience spans industrial, infrastructure, and software businesses—sectors where capital intensity and execution excellence are critical to success,” Magouyrk said.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

Webb did so by embodying professional excellence, constructing his cases with analytical rigor, painstaking research, and courage.

From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026

Moreno could feel that love too, with a renewed commitment to the excellence the Angels he displayed in his first decade as owner.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

"An Ivor Novello Award has for over 70 years been the most prestigious recognition of excellence in music and I'd like to thank our judges for working hard to recognise this year's nominees," adds Neri.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

But I didn’t want to write these reminders of my excellence every two weeks.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

Related Words

• greatness
• merit
• perfection
• purity
• quality
• supremacy
• virtue