excellence

noun

ex·​cel·​lence ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s 

1

: the quality of being excellent

an award for academic excellence

setting a high standard of excellence

see also black excellence

2

plural excellences : an excellent or valuable quality : virtue

… I am as admiring as almost everyone else of the film's many excellences …

—Daniel Mendelsohn

3

or Excellence : excellency sense 2

Lord Regent, I do greet your Excellence …

—William Shakespeare

Synonyms

• choiceness
• distinction
• excellency
• first-rateness
• greatness
• perfection
• preeminence
• primeness
• superbness
• superiority
• supremacy

Examples of excellence in a Sentence

The school is known for the excellence of its teachers.

an award for academic excellence

setting a high standard of excellence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Daily Pennsylvanian—Penn’s student newspaper—reported that Mangione founded the school’s Game Research and Development Environment club and that he was inducted into the Eta Kappa Nu honor society for excellence in electrical and computer engineering before graduating in 2020. —Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

The Lumiere Awards are presented annually to honor technical and creative excellence in motion pictures, episodic and new media content. —Carolyn Giardina, Variety, 20 Dec. 2024

These initiatives reflect the principles of excellence that have defined our company for over a century. —Tianwei Zhang, WWD, 19 Dec. 2024

The award is for excellence in casting and honors the recipient’s body of work and outstanding contribution to the casting profession. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing excellence

• Black excellence
• center of excellence
• par excellence

Kids Definition

excellence

noun

ex·​cel·​lence ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s 

1

: high quality

2

: an excellent quality : virtue

3

: excellency sense 2