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
Daniel Mendelsohn3
or Excellence
: excellency sense 2
Lord Regent, I do greet your Excellence …—William Shakespeare
William ShakespeareExamples 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
Provide support and structure, and excellence becomes possible again.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
Darnold endured more growing pains during his rookie season but also showed flashes of excellence, including throwing three touchdown passes in a duel with Aaron Rodgers during an overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
This list, based on the annual Cincinnati Design Awards, which recognizes regional excellence in architecture, always inspires me to open my eyes even wider to the variety of projects getting built in Greater Cincinnati.
—Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Feb. 2026
Hollywood’s first blockbuster movie was celebrating half a century of cinematic excellence, so Spielberg and company reunited for the milestone to share the origin story of one of the scariest — and most production-challenged — films ever made.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excellence
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Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
Darnold endured more growing pains during his rookie season but also showed flashes of excellence, including throwing three touchdown passes in a duel with Aaron Rodgers during an overtime loss to the Green Bay Packers.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
This list, based on the annual Cincinnati Design Awards, which recognizes regional excellence in architecture, always inspires me to open my eyes even wider to the variety of projects getting built in Greater Cincinnati.
—Sydney Franklin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Feb. 2026
Hollywood’s first blockbuster movie was celebrating half a century of cinematic excellence, so Spielberg and company reunited for the milestone to share the origin story of one of the scariest — and most production-challenged — films ever made.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 1 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excellence
Cite this Entry
“Excellence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excellence. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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excellence
noun
ex·cel·lence
ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
