excellence

noun

ex·​cel·​lence ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s How to pronounce excellence (audio)
Synonyms of excellence
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.
The SoCal Journalism Awards honor excellence in journalism across multiple categories, including entertainment, politics, lifestyle, environmental, gender, race, sports, technology, travel, food/culture and more. Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026 These leaders achieved outstanding success by combining a commitment to creativity with a passion for excellence. Sally Percy, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 The Los Angeles Times Media Group (LATMG) earned top honors at the Los Angeles Press Club’s 68th annual Southern California Journalism Awards, securing 45 awards for editorial excellence in 2025. Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The Golden Melody Awards have long served as the definitive measure of excellence across Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and Indigenous-language music. Faye Bradley, Variety, 28 June 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Excellence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excellence. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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

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