excellence

noun

ex·​cel·​lence ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s How to pronounce excellence (audio)
1
: the quality of being excellent
an award for academic excellence
setting a high standard of excellence
see also black excellence
2
plural excellences : an excellent or valuable quality : virtue
… I am as admiring as almost everyone else of the film's many excellencesDaniel Mendelsohn
3
or Excellence : excellency sense 2
Lord Regent, I do greet your ExcellenceWilliam Shakespeare

Examples of excellence in a Sentence

The school is known for the excellence of its teachers. an award for academic excellence setting a high standard of excellence
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Briggs & Riley’s model isn’t just a testament to smart design or operational excellence. Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025 Proponents say such partnerships are essential to innovation and academic excellence. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025 April 24, 2025 4 min read The Trump administration’s plans to cut NASA’s science missions will destroy the U.S. space legacy By Louis Friedman For more than half a century planetary exploration and space science have been a hallmark of American achievement and excellence. Louis Friedman, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2025 Judged by songwriters and composers, the awards recognize excellence in craft and creativity. Paul Grein, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for excellence

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

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Cite this Entry

“Excellence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excellence. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

excellence

noun
ex·​cel·​lence ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s How to pronounce excellence (audio)
1
: high quality
2
: an excellent quality : virtue
3

More from Merriam-Webster on excellence

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