excellence

[ek-suh-luhns]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of excellence¹

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

Example Sentences

New York can bring enrichment programs into every neighborhood so that excellence isn’t confined to the privileged few.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A new ranking system aims to better capture excellence in key tenets of a college education.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Those standards are under consultation, and it's not clear when they will be introduced to replace the current teaching and excellence framework.

Read more on BBC

“Other countries whose governments lack America’s commitment to freedom and democracy have shown how academic excellence can suffer when shifting external priorities tilt the research playing field away from free, meritocratic competition.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“For 16 years, Gabriella has served countless students at that location with excellence and stability.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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