excellence

/ˈeksələns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈeksələns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s/ (ame, mw)

excellence — noun

1. the state or standard of being far better than most other people or things of th

1.名詞B1
釋義

the state or standard of being far better than most other people or things of the same kind, so that the result is unusually good.

例句

The university has a strong reputation for academic excellence and world-class research.

collocation: academic excellence

Vikram received a national award for excellence in sustainable engineering.

collocation: excellence in + noun

同義詞
  • superiority

    places more emphasis on being above others; can sound arrogant when used about a person

  • distinction

    carries a formal tone and often implies recognition by others

  • brilliance

    stronger emotional tone, often used for exceptional talent or intelligence

  • quality

    a more general, less emphatic term; can mean any degree of goodness

反義詞
  • mediocrity

    the state of being average or ordinary, neither good nor bad

  • inferiority

    lower quality or rank compared to others

文法句型

excellence in + noun/gerund

excellence of + noun

用法筆記

Usually uncountable — it describes a general standard rather than a specific item. Frequently appears in fixed phrases such as 'center of excellence', 'pursuit of excellence', and 'standard of excellence'.

常見錯誤

❌Her work shows excellence and perfection in every detail.
✅Her work shows excellence and great care in every detail.
💡'excellence' means very high quality, not complete flawlessness; 'perfection' suggests no mistakes at all.
❌He has an excellence in mathematics.
✅He has excelled in mathematics.' or 'He shows excellence in mathematics.
💡'excellence' is uncountable and cannot take 'a/an' in this sense.

2. a particular quality or skill that makes someone or something stand out as very

2.名詞B2
釋義

a particular quality or skill that makes someone or something stand out as very good or impressive in a specific area.

例句

Trang's greatest excellence as a designer is her ability to combine beauty with practical use.

possessive + excellence + as + noun

Each region has its own culinary excellences, shaped by local ingredients and traditions.

plural form: excellences

同義詞
  • strength

    more common in everyday speech; less formal and more general

  • virtue

    carries a moral tone; often used for personal character rather than skills

  • forte

    borrowed from French; refers specifically to a person's strong skill area

  • specialty

    focuses on a particular area of expertise or product

反義詞
  • weakness

    an area where someone or something performs poorly

  • failing

    a more formal word for a shortcoming or defect

文法句型

possessive + excellence

excellence as + noun

用法筆記

Countable in this sense (plural 'excellences'), though the plural form is rarely used in everyday conversation. Found more often in formal or literary writing, where it highlights a distinct admirable quality. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 picks out a specific feature, whereas sense 1 refers to an overall high standard.

常見錯誤

❌Her excellence as a speaker is one of her many excellences.' (redundant).
✅Her greatest excellence is her skill as a speaker.
💡avoid using 'excellence' both as the overall quality and the specific feature in the same sentence.