excellence
noun
ex·cel·lence
ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s 
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 excellences …—
Daniel Mendelsohn
Daniel Mendelsohn3
or Excellence
: excellency sense 2
Lord Regent, I do greet your Excellence …—William Shakespeare
William ShakespeareExamples 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
Robb demonstrates excellence in both her academic and extracurricular pursuits.
—Darla Rivera, Oklahoman, 9 Feb. 2026
Pettit said District 86’s long history of educational excellence was key in his interest to come.
—Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
The iX offered three different motor options, but our top-tier tester was nothing short of EV excellence.
—Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
Campus standards of excellence nationwide typically require that the average GPA of fraternity men exceed the all-male student average.
—Anthony V. MacK, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excellence
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.
Darla Rivera, Oklahoman, 9 Feb. 2026
Pettit said District 86’s long history of educational excellence was key in his interest to come.
—Chuck Fieldman, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
The iX offered three different motor options, but our top-tier tester was nothing short of EV excellence.
—Marc D Grasso, Hartford Courant, 7 Feb. 2026
Campus standards of excellence nationwide typically require that the average GPA of fraternity men exceed the all-male student average.
—Anthony V. MacK, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excellence
Cite this Entry
“Excellence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excellence. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
excellence
noun
ex·cel·lence
ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
