Excellent

Excellent is an adjective used to describe something of exceptionally high quality, merit, or capability. It conveys that something surpasses ordinary standards and can apply to objects, performances, ideas, or actions. In everyday speech it can serve as a general positive assessment, while in formal writing it often aligns with specific evaluative language such as “excellent evidence” or “an excellent result.” The adverbial form is excellently, and the related noun forms are excellence (the state or quality of being excellent) and excellency (a title or rank, as in Your Excellency).

Etymology and history: Excellent derives from Latin excellens, the present participle of excellere meaning to surpass or rise above. The English term appeared in the 14th century with the sense of surpassing quality and gradually broadened to its current usage describing high merit.

Usage notes: Excellent is widely understood across English varieties but can be perceived as overly effusive in some contexts. It is more formal than good or great, yet common in business, education, journalism, and professional communication. As an interjection, it can express approval: “Excellent!”

Related terms and variants: Synonyms include superb, outstanding, first-rate, superior, and first-class. The noun excellence denotes high quality or merit, while excellency is a historical or ceremonial title for certain officials or representatives.

See also: Quality, evaluation, merit, rating scales. Examples: The team delivered an excellent performance. The report provided an excellent overview of the data.