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

Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism. —Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2025

Additionally, Republicans have laid blame on candidate quality, pointing specifically to gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears. —Julia Manchester, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2025

Adjective

So how did The Times, a pillar of quality British journalism since the 18th century, blow the story so badly? —Max Tani, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2025

But still, Spoelstra came away encouraged by what the Heat showed in the first 40 minutes of the game against a quality Magic team before wilting in the final eight minutes of the season-opening loss. —Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 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