Image of Excellence

Excellence

Topic

The pursuit of outstanding capability, success, and individual merit, championed as essential for American success.


First Mentioned

2/21/2026, 5:43:46 AM

Last Updated

2/21/2026, 5:49:33 AM

Research Retrieved

2/21/2026, 5:49:32 AM

Summary

Excellence is a concept denoting superiority and extreme merit, currently at the center of a cultural debate regarding its perceived decline in Western institutions. In discussions led by figures like Jason Calacanis, David Sacks, and Chamath Palihapitiya, the pursuit of excellence is contrasted with Wokeism and Identity Politics, which are blamed for undermining first principles thinking and meritocracy, particularly in elite universities like Harvard. This has led to calls from investors like Bill Ackman for a return to accountability in corporate and educational cultures. Beyond this philosophical context, the term identifies several distinct entities: a magazine for Porsche enthusiasts, a Swedish pop group, an Amiga word processor, a luxury megayacht launched in 2019, and a specific class of cruise ships. Maintaining excellence in innovation and defense technology is also cited as a prerequisite for the United States to retain its global superpower status.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Antonyms

    Inferiority

  • Synonyms

    Superiority, eminence, distinction, transcendence, preeminence

  • Etymology

    Derived from Middle French and Latin excellentia

  • Core Pillars

    Task execution, interpersonal relationships, ethical decision-making

  • Key Proponents

    Bill Ackman, Vivek Ramaswamy

  • First Recorded Use

    1350-1400

Timeline
  • First recorded use of the term excellence in Middle English. (Source: Dictionary.com)

    1350-01-01

  • Launch of the luxury megayacht named Excellence. (Source: Wikidata)

    2019-01-01

  • Following the Hamas attacks, a public debate intensifies regarding the erosion of excellence and meritocracy in elite academic institutions. (Source: aac10e8c-eca3-4266-84a5-0bcb163d5db5)

    2023-10-07

Excellence

Excellence may refer to: Excellence (magazine), for owners and fans of Porsche cars Excellence (pop group), a Swedish pop group Excellence (software), a word processor for the Amiga Excellence (yacht), launched 2019 Excellence-class cruise ship

Web Search Results
  • Excellence - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com

    SKIP TO CONTENT IPA guide Other forms: excellences Excellence means greatness — the very best. Achieving excellence is never easy to do. Excellence is a quality that people really appreciate, because it's so hard to find. Excellence is the quality of excelling, of being truly the best at something. Getting an A+ shows excellence. Michael Jordan's basketball career was filled with excellence. We love Picasso and Shakespeare for their excellence. When you see excellence, you should appreciate the work that went into it. So much in the world falls short of excellence. Definitions of excellence 1. noun the quality of excelling; possessing good qualities in high degree see moresee less types: show 5 types...;) hide 5 types...;) [...] types: show 5 types...;) hide 5 types...;) admirability, admirableness, wonderfulness admirable excellence grandness, impressiveness, magnificence, richness splendid or imposing in size or appearance civilisation, civilization, refinement the quality of excellence in thought and manners and taste expansiveness, expansivity a quality characterized by magnificence of scale or the tendency to expand loftiness, majesty, stateliness impressiveness in scale or proportion type of: quality an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone 2. noun an outstanding feature; something in which something or someone excels “a center of manufacturing excellence” synonyms: excellency see moresee less [...] synonyms: excellency see moresee less type of: characteristic, feature a prominent attribute or aspect of something Pronunciation US /ˈɛks(ə)ləns/ UK /ˈɛksələnts/ Cite this entry Style: MLA MLA APA Chicago Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘excellence'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family ### Vocabulary lists containing excellence Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ance, -ence This vocabulary list features words with the common suffix that means "act or condition of." "CLEP Principles of Management," Vocabulary from Chapter 10

  • Personal Excellence at Work and Career Growth: A Strategic Path to ...

    ### The Connection Between Personal Excellence and Career Growth Personal excellence is closely tied to career growth. Individuals who embody these qualities are more likely to: [...] ### The Pillars of Personal Excellence Personal excellence is a deliberate and consistent effort to perform at one’s best in all aspects of work, including task execution, interpersonal relationships, and ethical decision-making. It requires self-awareness, discipline, and a growth mindset—the belief that abilities can be developed through effort and learning. [...] Inspire others: Personal excellence serves as a role model for others, inspiring them to strive for their own goals and personal growth.

  • EXCELLENCE Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com

    "Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 ## Other Word Forms superexcellence noun ## Etymology ### Origin of excellence First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin excellentia; equivalent to excel + -ence ## 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. > Manchester City's desire for excellence can be summed up by the attitude of Lauren Hemp, who was player of the match after supplying two assists and creating 11 chances for her team-mates. > > From BBC [...] Dictionary.com Thesaurus.com Synonyms # excellence American [ek-suh-luhns] / ˈɛk sə ləns / ## noun 1. the fact or state of excelling; superiority; eminence. > his excellence in mathematics. Synonyms: : distinction, transcendence, preeminence 2. an excellent quality or feature. > Use of herbs is one of the excellences of French cuisine. Synonyms: : virtue, merit Antonyms: : inferiority 3. (usually initial capital letter) excellency. excellence British / ˈɛksələns / ## noun 1. the state or quality of excelling or being exceptionally good; extreme merit; superiority 2. an action, characteristic, feature, etc, in which a person excels

  • EXCELLENCE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster

    Est. 1828 Definition Definition Synonyms Example Sentences Word History Phrases Containing Entries Near + Cite this EntryCitation + Kids DefinitionKids + More from M-W Show more Show more + Citation + Kids + More from M-W + To save this word, you'll need to log in. Log In # excellence ## noun ex·​cel·​lence ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s") Synonyms of excellence 1 : the quality of being excellent an award for academic excellence setting a high standard of excellence see also black excellence 2 plural excellences : an excellent or valuable quality : virtue … I am as admiring as almost everyone else of the film's many excellences …—Daniel Mendelsohn 3 or Excellence : excellency sense 2 Lord Regent, I do greet your Excellence …—William Shakespeare [...] ## Synonyms of excellence Relevance excellency superiority perfection See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus ## Examples of excellence in a Sentence The school is known for the excellence of its teachers. an award for academic excellence setting a high standard of excellence Recent Examples on the Web Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback. [...] Time Traveler The first known use of excellence was in the 14th century See more words from the same century ## Phrases Containing excellence Black excellence center of excellence par excellence ## Browse Nearby Words excel excellence excellency See all Nearby Words ## Cite this Entry “Excellence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Accessed 18 Feb. 2026. Copy Citation ## Kids Definition excellence noun ex·​cel·​lence ˈek-s(ə-)lən(t)s") 1 : high quality 2 : an excellent quality : virtue 3 : excellency sense 2 ## More from Merriam-Webster on excellence Nglish: Translation of excellence for Spanish Speakers Last Updated: - Updated example sentences Love words? Need even more definitions?

  • The Importance of Excellence in Personal and Professional Life

    Dunsin Oyekan & Jesus Lover's Group | Whatever Is Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well | Facebook Log In Log In Forgot Account? Image 1 The Importance of Excellence in Personal and Professional Life Summarized by AI from the post below Excellence attracts elevation. Diligence opens doors that talent alone cannot. Excellence is never an accident. It's a choice. Image 2: ©️Onyemauche Favour #Excellence#Motivation#personaldevelopment Image 3: No photo description available. Image 4 All reactions: 2 2 comments 1 share Like Comment Share Most relevant []( Prince Pemisire Adeniyi Excellence will always make room for you where talent alone can’t. This is a timeless reminder to stop playing small. Show up, do the work, and do it well. 45w View 1 reply

Location Data

Excellence, Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, 89030, United States

residential

Coordinates: 36.2306087, -115.0952231

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