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

Snuffing them out demanded excellence. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026

This combination of legal excellence and genuine local expertise separates truly effective personal injury representation from the alternatives in a market as competitive as South Florida. —Anton Lucanus april 3, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026

Ahead, shop and explore six makeup ideas to try at Coachella this year for head-to-toe excellence. —Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 3 Apr. 2026

Her excellence may be the key to explaining why her legacy was concealed for so long. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Apr. 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