quality

Frequently Asked Questions About quality

How is the word quality different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of quality are attribute, character, and property. While all these words 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

When is it sensible to use attribute instead of quality?

The synonyms attribute and quality are sometimes interchangeable, but attribute implies a quality ascribed to a thing or a being.

the attributes of a military hero

When is character a more appropriate choice than quality?

The words character and quality can be used in similar contexts, but character applies to a peculiar and distinctive quality of a thing or a class.

remarks of an unseemly character

When could property be used to replace quality?

In some situations, the words property and quality are roughly equivalent. However, 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