quality
12 synonyms and 0 antonyms for quality, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The overall standard or excellence of something, as opposed to how much of it there is.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use quality
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin qualitas, coined by Cicero as a direct translation of the Greek poiotes, itself invented by Plato from poios, "of what kind."
Full origin of quality →Frequently asked questions
What does “quality” mean?
The word “quality” means the overall standard or excellence of something, as opposed to how much of it there is. In plain terms, how good something is, or a specific trait/feature that something has.
How do you pronounce “quality”?
“Quality” is pronounced KWO-lih-tee (/ˈkwɑləti/ in IPA).
How do you use “quality” in a sentence?
Here is “quality” used in a sentence: “The restaurant is known for the quality of its ingredients, not the size of its portions.”
What part of speech is “quality”?
“Quality” is a noun.
Where does the word “quality” come from?
The word “quality” comes from Latin. From Latin qualitas, coined by Cicero as a direct translation of the Greek poiotes, itself invented by Plato from poios, "of what kind.".
Is “quality” a common word?
“Quality” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “quality” have?
“Quality” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the overall standard or excellence of something, as opposed to how much of it there is.
What is the difference between quality and quantity?
Quality is about how good something is, meaning its standard or excellence. Quantity is about how much or how many there are, meaning an amount or number. The saying 'quality over quantity' captures this: it's often better to have a few excellent things than a large number of mediocre ones.
How is quality measured?
Quality is judged against standards, specifications, and expectations. Manufacturers use testing, inspections, defect rates, and durability trials, while services rely on customer satisfaction and reviews. Some aspects, like how long a product lasts, are clearly measurable; others depend on perception, so quality is assessed through both hard data and judgement.
Is quality subjective or objective?
It's partly both. Some elements of quality are objective and measurable, such as durability, precision, or how well something meets its specification. Others are subjective, shaped by taste, expectation, and personal preference, so one person's high quality is another's average. Good quality usually combines measurable performance with satisfying the people who use it.
What does 'high quality' mean?
'High quality' means made to a superior standard, being well designed, carefully constructed, reliable, and often durable. A high-quality item performs its job well and lasts, meeting or exceeding what people expect. The phrase judges excellence, not amount, so a single high-quality tool can outclass a whole box of cheap ones.