adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of excellent
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin excellent-, stem of excellēns, present participle of excellere excel
Explanation
Something excellent is very good, great, or high quality: this is one of the best compliments around. Words like extraordinary and exceptional are similar in meaning to excellent. This is a strong word used mainly for things, people, and actions that are much better than average. A B+ on a test isn't bad, but an A is excellent. In basketball, making an all-star team is excellent. Being excellent is difficult and people tend to admire it. People use excellent in another, less specific way sometimes. If you want to say "Cool" or "Good" you might say "Excellent!"
Vocabulary lists containing excellent
Thumbs Up: Synonyms for "Good"
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 5
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Barrister Holly Girven, who is also a wheelchair user, has praised court staff for being "absolutely excellent," but says she too has faced several access challenges.
From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026
But from bruised hands to a vein condition in his legs and apparent sleepiness in meetings, Trump has also had a number of issues, even though his doctor says he's in excellent health.
From Barron's • Jun. 14, 2026
Danielle Allen’s excellent book “Radical Duke” builds on these discoveries and makes a further claim: that Paine, and a cohort of other radical writers, wrote at the behest of a singular, powerful aristocratic patron.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
I had totally forgotten about my excellent test scores.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
“I think we’re going to become excellent friends.”
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
