Dictionary › Q › quality

quality

3 syllables

Quick answer

As a noun, quality means level of excellence. As an adjective, it means being of good worth, well made, fit for purpose.

Meanings of quality

15 meanings

noun

Level of excellence.
“This school is well-known for having teachers of high quality.”
“Quality of life is usually determined by health, education, and income.”
Something that differentiates a thing or person.
“One of the qualities of pure iron is that it does not rust easily.”
“While being impulsive can be great for artists, it is not a desirable quality for engineers.”
The degree to which a man-made object or system is free from bugs and flaws, as opposed to scope of functions or quantity of items.
thermodynamicsIn a two-phase liquid–vapor mixture, the ratio of the mass of vapor present to the total mass of the mixture.
emergency medicineThe third step in OPQRST where the responder investigates what the NOI/MOI feels like.
“To identify quality try asking, "what does it feel like?".”
UKjournalismA newspaper with relatively serious, high-quality content.
An essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
“the quality of mercy is not strained”
A degree or grade of excellence or worth
“the quality of students has risen”
“an executive of low caliber”
Similar: caliber, calibre
A characteristic property that defines the apparent individual nature of something
“each town has a quality all its own”
“the radical character of our demands”
Similar: character, lineament
(music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound)
“the timbre of her soprano was rich and lovely”
“the muffled tones of the broken bell summoned them to meet”
Similar: timbre, timber, tone

Older and rare meanings (2)

archaicPosition; status; rank.
archaicHigh social position. (See also the quality.)
“A peasant is not allowed to fall in love with a lady of quality.”
“Membership of this golf club is limited to those of quality and wealth.”

adjective

Being of good worth, well made, fit for purpose; of high quality.
“We only sell quality products.”
“That was a quality game by Jim Smith.”
Of superior grade
“choice wines”
“prime beef”
“prize carnations”
Similar: choice, prime, prize, select
Of high social status
“people of quality”
“a quality family”