the quintessence
noun
formal
1
: the most important part (of something)
The quintessence of music is the melody.
2
: the perfect example (of something)
He was the quintessence of calm.
Examples of the quintessence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Commissioned in the early twentieth century for the Marquise de Polignac, the château was envisioned as a social domain, the quintessence of French art de vivre.
—
William Jones, USA Today, 18 May 2026
The 28-year-old is the quintessence of modern Milan.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
And beyond the holiday parties, there is the quintessence of winter dressing: New Year’s Eve.
—Brooke Devard Ozaydinli, Refinery29, 11 Dec. 2025
Trumpeter Miles Davis was the quintessence of cool.
—Helena Alonso Paisley, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
Like the peregrine falcon, the cheetah, and the red ant, the mako is the quintessence of the species.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
Romy Schneider, the quintessence of Austrian elegance, made her name playing Sissi in a 1950s trilogy.
—Steff Yotka, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025
The raging, breakneck instrumentals and emotional vocals that are the quintessence of the band resonate perfectly with the anime’s story and the feelings of its main characters.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2025
There is nothing like Lindberg, a product that is the quintessence of luxury, in full titanium, the lightest in the market, with no screws.
—Luisa Zargani, WWD, 19 Dec. 2024
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William Jones, USA Today, 18 May 2026
The 28-year-old is the quintessence of modern Milan.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
And beyond the holiday parties, there is the quintessence of winter dressing: New Year’s Eve.
—Brooke Devard Ozaydinli, Refinery29, 11 Dec. 2025
Trumpeter Miles Davis was the quintessence of cool.
—Helena Alonso Paisley, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2025
Like the peregrine falcon, the cheetah, and the red ant, the mako is the quintessence of the species.
—Pat Smith, Outdoor Life, 24 July 2025
Romy Schneider, the quintessence of Austrian elegance, made her name playing Sissi in a 1950s trilogy.
—Steff Yotka, Vogue, 28 Apr. 2025
The raging, breakneck instrumentals and emotional vocals that are the quintessence of the band resonate perfectly with the anime’s story and the feelings of its main characters.
—Billboard Japan, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2025
There is nothing like Lindberg, a product that is the quintessence of luxury, in full titanium, the lightest in the market, with no screws.
—Luisa Zargani, WWD, 19 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“The quintessence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20quintessence. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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