quality

1 of 2

noun

qual·​i·​ty ˈkwä-lə-tē How to pronounce quality (audio)
plural qualities
1
a
: peculiar and essential character : nature
her ethereal qualityGay Talese
b
: an inherent feature : property
had a quality of stridence, dissonanceRoald Dahl
c
: capacity, role
in the quality of reader and companionJoseph Conrad
2
a
: degree of excellence : grade
the quality of competing air serviceCurrent Biography
b
: superiority in kind
merchandise of quality
3
a
: social status : rank
4
a
: a distinguishing attribute : characteristic
possesses many fine qualities
b
archaic : an acquired skill : accomplishment
5
: the character in a logical proposition of being affirmative or negative
6
: vividness of hue
7
a
: timbre
b
: the identifying character of a vowel sound determined chiefly by the resonance of the vocal chambers in uttering it
8
: the attribute of an elementary sensation that makes it fundamentally unlike any other sensation

quality

2 of 2

adjective

: being of high quality
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
Photo : Barrett-Jackson via Getty Images Assembled by a team of special technicians at a dedicated facility in Tochigi, Japan, the NSX was a quality piece, establishing a benchmark for fit and finish that any stateside or European manufacturer would envy. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 4 Oct. 2024 Now the archetype of extractive fast fashion practices, SHEIN failed to incur any points whatsoever for key areas that support nature and biodiversity including soil health, water quality and protecting key species. Amy Nguyen, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024
Adjective
Since founding in 2019, some of their biggest milestones are hitting seven figures in their first year in business, being worn by Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, and expanding into quality Italian belts. Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024 Beijing also argues that by blocking consumer access to affordable, quality Chinese green technology, the U.S. restrictions will hurt global efforts to fight climate change. Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for quality 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quality.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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 1a

Adjective

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quality was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near quality

Cite this Entry

“Quality.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quality. Accessed 14 Oct. 2024.

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 How to pronounce quality (audio)
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 heirLouisiana 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

More from Merriam-Webster on quality

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