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 of excellence

• excellency
• superiority
• perfection

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

Led by Arne Güllich, researchers analyzed the developmental histories of 35,000 world-class adults, including Nobel laureates and Olympians, finding early excellence is weakly linked to adult achievement. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Giving Messi too much opportunity, England went to a low block in the 71st minute after scoring with excellence in the 55th minute. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 July 2026

Even better, this new wave of the maxi is less about aesthetic excellence and more about ease. — Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 19 July 2026

Competing at his sixth and potentially final World Cup, Messi had delivered his usual rarefied excellence throughout the tournament — even at an age in which most soccer greats are well into retirement. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026

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