noun B1 Intermediate Common

excellence

EHK-suh-luhns

Excellence (noun) means the quality of being extremely good at something; outstanding merit. Example: “The restaurant is known for its excellence in customer service.”

noun

The quality of being extremely good at something; outstanding merit.

"The restaurant is known for its excellence in customer service."

How to use excellence

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeing outstandingly good.

Common pairings

academic excellence a mark of excellence strive for excellence

Word forms

excellences plural

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The restaurant is known for its _____ in customer service.

Etymology

From Old French excellence, from Latin excellentia, built on excellere (see "excel").

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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distinction merit brilliance mastery virtuosity eminence superiority pre-eminence perfection worth goodness purity

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Rhymes for excellence

hence fence whence thence Spence valence absence science silence defence essence ambience

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Frequently asked questions

What does “excellence” mean?

The word “excellence” means the quality of being extremely good at something; outstanding merit. In plain terms, being outstandingly good.

How do you pronounce “excellence”?

“Excellence” is pronounced EHK-suh-luhns (/ˈɛksələns/ in IPA).

How do you use “excellence” in a sentence?

Here is “excellence” used in a sentence: “The restaurant is known for its excellence in customer service.”

What is another word for “excellence”?

Words with a similar meaning to “excellence” include superiority, pre-eminence, perfection, worth, goodness and purity.

What part of speech is “excellence”?

“Excellence” is a noun.

Where does the word “excellence” come from?

The word “excellence” comes from Latin. From Old French excellence, from Latin excellentia, built on excellere (see "excel").

Is “excellence” a common word?

“Excellence” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

What is the difference between excellence and perfection?

Perfection means being entirely without flaw, an absolute state, while excellence means being extremely good — outstanding merit rather than flawlessness. That is why organisations speak of striving for excellence: it names a consistently achievable high standard rather than an impossible one.

What is the difference between excellence and Excellency?

Excellence is the quality of being extremely good at something. Excellency, usually capitalised and preceded by "Your" or "His/Her", is an honorific title used for certain high officials, such as ambassadors. Swapping one for the other is a common error.

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