quantity

noun

quan·​ti·​ty ˈkwän-tə-tē 

plural quantities

1

a

: an indefinite amount or number

b

: a determinate or estimated amount

c

: total amount or number

d

: a considerable amount or number

—often used in plural

… generous quantities of luck.

—H. E. Putsch

2

a

: the aspect in which a thing is measurable in terms of greater, less, or equal or of increasing or decreasing magnitude

b

: the subject of a mathematical operation

c

: an individual considered with respect to a given situation

… an unknown quantity … as attorney general.

—Tom Wicker

3

a

: duration and intensity of speech sounds as distinct from their individual quality or phonemic character

specifically : the relative length or brevity of a prosodic syllable in some languages (such as Greek and Latin)

b

: the relative duration or time length of a speech sound or sound sequence

4

: the character of a logical proposition as being universal, particular, or singular

Synonyms of quantity

• loads
• ton
• plenty
• dozen
• chunk
• deal
• abundance
• wealth
• pile
• lot
• slew
• bunch
• volume
• bundle

Examples of quantity in a Sentence

The wine is made in small quantities.

The boss is worried about quantity as well as quality.

The family buys food in quantity.

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead of focusing on cost or quantity, people might consider gifts that foster connection or shared experience. —Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025

For the survey, each island’s trail offerings were assessed in terms of quality and quantity. —Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 21 Dec. 2025

The researchers argue that the holes weren't storage silos in the modern sense, but markers of equivalence – a way to make quantities visible and negotiable in a society without currency. —New Atlas, 21 Dec. 2025

For the price, guests are whisked across half the countryside in the classiest of style, and offered a near-frightening quantity of prestige single malts and belly-filling fare. —Jake Emen, Robb Report, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English quantite, from Anglo-French quantité, from Latin quantitat-, quantitas, from quantus how much, how large; akin to Latin quam how, as, quando when, qui who — more at who

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing quantity

• in quantity
• known quantity
• quantity surveyor
• quantity theory
• unknown quantity

Kids Definition

quantity

noun

quan·​ti·​ty ˈkwän(t)-ət-ē 

plural quantities

1

a

: an amount or number that is not fixed

b

: a great amount or number

buys food in quantity

2

a

: the character of something that makes it possible to measure or number it

b

: something on which a mathematical operation can be performed

multiply the quantity x by y

Etymology

Middle English quantite "amount," from early French quantité (same meaning), derived from Latin quantus "how much?, how large?"