quality

1 of 2

noun

qual·​i·​ty ˈkwä-lə-tē 

plural qualities

1

a

: degree of excellence : how good, bad, useful, etc. something is : grade

craftmanship of very high quality

poor sound/image quality

I spend countless hours improving the water quality of my half-acre pond.

—Robin Wall Kimmerer

b

: a high level of value or excellence : superiority in kind

merchandise of quality

quality at a reasonable price

valuing quality over quantity

2

a

: a distinguishing often abstract attribute : characteristic

possesses many fine qualities

strong leadership qualities

a story with an almost mythical quality

b

: an inherent feature or capability : property

an herb with medicinal qualities

… the comfort of jeans … comes not from any intrinsic quality of denim but from … our attitude toward denim as a textile …

—Krystal D'Costa

c

: peculiar and essential character : nature, kind

The quality of mercy is not strained …

—William Shakespeare

3

archaic

a

: social status : rank

… in my humble quality as one of the rank and file, I am … your thoroughly devoted and admiring servant …

—Charles Dickens

b

: capacity, role

… in the quality of reader and companion.

—Joseph Conrad

c

: aristocracy

… the people of quality at that time lived separate from the rest of the company.

—Henry Fielding

d

: an acquired skill : accomplishment

She hath more qualities than a water spaniel …

—William Shakespeare

4

: the character of a logical proposition as being affirmative or negative

5

: vividness of hue

6

a

: timbre

b

: the identifying character of a vowel sound determined chiefly by the resonance of the vocal chambers in uttering it

quality

2 of 2

adjective

: very good or excellent : being of high quality

quality shoes

Synonyms of quality

Noun

• characteristic
• feature
• trait
• attribute
• attribution
• criterion

Adjective

• excellent
• great
• superb
• terrific
• wonderful
• stellar
• beautiful
• prime
• awesome
• fantastic
• lovely
• fabulous
• fine
• marvelous

Choose the Right Synonym for quality

quality, property, character, attribute mean an intelligible feature by which a thing may be identified.

quality is a general term applicable to any trait or characteristic whether individual or generic.

material with a silky quality

property implies a characteristic that belongs to a thing's essential nature and may be used to describe a type or species.

the property of not conducting heat

character applies to a peculiar and distinctive quality of a thing or a class.

remarks of an unseemly character

attribute implies a quality ascribed to a thing or a being.

the attributes of a military hero

Examples of quality in a Sentence

Noun

Honesty is a desirable quality.

Stubbornness is one of his bad qualities.

She has strong leadership qualities.

The house has many fine qualities.

His music has a primitive quality.

They offer quality at a reasonable price.

Adjective

The restaurant offers quality service.

The store sells quality furniture at reasonable prices.

It can be difficult to find quality childcare.

He had a quality education.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

More than 4,000 people have given them a perfect rating at Amazon, many writing that the quality and design are on par with higher-end Hokas. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2025

Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism. —Serenah McKay, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2025

Adjective

If David Gustafsson had made more progress, the Jets’ 25-year-old, homegrown draft pick could complement Morgan Barron and Cole Koepke on a quality fourth line. —Murat Ates, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025

Values range from about $10,000 for a coupe in good condition to $50,000 for a concours-quality Super Beetle convertible, last made in 1979. —Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English qualite, from Anglo-French qualité, from Latin qualitat-, qualitas, from qualis of what kind; akin to Latin qui who — more at who

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2c

Adjective

1905, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing quality

• high quality
• quality assurance
• quality circle
• quality control
• quality of life
• quality point
• quality point average
• quality time
• star quality

Rhymes for quality

• jollity
• polity
• causality
• equality
• frivolity
• sodality
• inequality

Kids Definition

quality

noun

qual·​i·​ty

ˈkwäl-ət-ē

plural qualities

1

a

: basic and individual nature

a person with a kindly quality

b

: a basic characteristic

hardness is a quality of steel

2

: grade of excellence

food of high quality

3

: high social rank

marry a person of quality

4

: something that sets a person or thing apart

5

: timbre

Medical Definition

quality

noun

qual·​i·​ty ˈkwäl-ət-ē 

plural qualities

: a special or distinguishing attribute: as

a

: timbre

b

: the attribute of an elementary sensation that makes it fundamentally unlike any other sensation

c

: the character of an X-ray beam that determines its penetrating power and is dependent upon its wavelength distribution

Legal Definition

quality

noun

qual·​i·​ty

plural qualities

1

: a special, distinctive, or essential character: as

a

: a character, position, or role assumed

those acts of ownership, which the person called to the succession can only do in quality of heir

—Louisiana Civil Code

b

: the character of an estate as determined by the manner in which it is to be held or enjoyed

2

: degree of excellence

made no warranties as to the product's quality