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

“Together, we will create an environment that celebrates creativity, honors excellence and delivers an unforgettable experience for movie fans everywhere.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 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

“We are already seeing it, new firms are emerging,” he said, pointing to new centers of tech excellence around Munich, Paris and the Nordic region.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

The UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of only 57 cancer centers in the United States to receive the National Cancer Center's "comprehensive" designation, recognizing excellence in patient care and advanced cancer research.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

My eyes couldn’t get past words like excellence, distinction, gifted, and especially Donovan Curtis.

From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

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