quality

[kwol-i-tee]

noun

plural

qualities 

1. an essential or distinctive characteristic, property, or attribute.

   the chemical qualities of alcohol.

   Synonyms: feature, character, trait

2. character or nature, as belonging to or distinguishing a thing.

   the quality of a sound.

3. character with respect to fineness, or grade of excellence.

   food of poor quality; silks of fine quality.

   Synonyms: condition, sort, grade, kind, nature

4. high grade; superiority; excellence.

   wood grain of quality.

5. a personality or character trait.

   kindness is one of her many good qualities.

6. native excellence or superiority.

7. an accomplishment or attainment.

8. good or high social position.

   a man of quality.

9. the superiority or distinction associated with high social position.

10. Acoustics.,  the texture of a tone, dependent on its overtone content, that distinguishes it from others of the same pitch and loudness.

11. Phonetics.,  the tonal color, or timbre, that characterizes a particular vowel sound.

12. Logic.,  the character of a proposition as affirmative or negative.

13. Thermodynamics.,  the proportion or percentage of vapor in a mixture of liquid and vapor, as wet steam.

14. social status or position.

15. a person of high social position.

    He's quality, that one is.

adjective

1. of or having superior quality.

   quality paper.

2. producing or providing products or services of high quality or merit.

   a quality publisher.

3. of or occupying high social status.

   a quality family.

4. marked by a concentrated expenditure of involvement, concern, or commitment.

   Counselors are urging that working parents try to spend more quality time with their children.

quality

/ ˈkwɒlɪtɪ /

noun

1. a distinguishing characteristic, property, or attribute

2. the basic character or nature of something

3. a trait or feature of personality

4. degree or standard of excellence, esp a high standard

5. (formerly) high social status or the distinction associated with it

6. musical tone colour; timbre

7. logic the characteristic of a proposition that is dependent on whether it is affirmative or negative

8. phonetics the distinctive character of a vowel, determined by the configuration of the mouth, tongue, etc, when it is articulated and distinguished from the pitch and stress with which it is uttered

9. (modifier) having or showing excellence or superiority

   a quality product

Other Word Forms

• qualityless adjective
• nonquality noun
• subquality noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of quality¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English qualite, from Old French, from Latin quālitās, equivalent to quāl(is) “of what sort” + -itās -ity

Word History and Origins

Origin of quality¹

C13: from Old French qualité, from Latin quālitās state, nature, from quālis of what sort

Synonym Study

Quality, attribute, property agree in meaning a particular characteristic (of a person or thing). A quality is a characteristic, innate or acquired, that, in some particular, determines the nature and behavior of a person or thing: naturalness as a quality; the quality of meat. An attribute was originally a quality attributed, usually to a person or something personified; more recently it has meant a fundamental or innate characteristic: an attribute of God; attributes of a logical mind. Property applies only to things; it means a characteristic belonging specifically in the constitution of, or found (invariably) in, the behavior of a thing: physical properties of uranium or of limestone.

Example Sentences

"Saving this sum would require much more than a crackdown on waste; it would almost certainly require substantial cuts to the quantity or quality of public services," said the IFS's Carl Emmerson.

From BBC

Now, they have more depth and quality to push on.

From BBC

Tuchel is a huge admirer of the talent that Stones has and has spoken about the unique qualities that he can bring to any England side.

From BBC

What leadership qualities has he possibly shown when he has been carrying drinks all summer as 12th man for the Test team, rather than playing for Warwickshire?

From BBC

A spokesperson for the trust said only 19 lower sixth students enrolled, but it would ensure the current Year 13 pupils continued to receive "high quality" education.

From BBC

Related Words

• excellent 
• exceptional 
• fabulous 
• fantastic 
• good 
• great 
• incomparable 
• outstanding 
• superb 
• superior 
• very good www.thesaurus.com
• wonderful