TOP

Definition of quality noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

quality

noun
 
/ˈkwɒləti/
 
/ˈkwɑːləti/
(plural qualities)
jump to other results
  1. [uncountable, countable] the standard of something when it is compared to other things like it; how good or bad something is
    • Improving the quality of care for nursing home residents is a priority.
    • When costs are cut product quality suffers.
    • of… quality The soil here is of poor quality.
    • The food is fresh and of good quality.
    • His goal was of top quality.
    • goods of a high quality
    • high-quality goods
    • in quality a decline in water quality
    • We have seen a marked improvement in the quality of service provided.
    see also air quality
    Extra Examples
    • The technique is used to enhance the quality of photographs.
    • Budget cuts are affecting the quality of education for some students.
    • All our cakes are made with top-quality ingredients.
    • Use the highest-quality ingredients you can find.
    • The photos are of variable quality.
    • Most of the goods on offer are of very poor quality.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • excellent
    • exceptional
    • good
    verb + quality
    • maintain
    • enhance
    • improve
    quality + verb
    • vary
    • improve
    • go down
    quality + noun
    • control
    • assurance
    • standards
    preposition
    • of…quality
    phrases
    • quality of life
    See full entry
  2. [uncountable] a high standard synonym excellence
    • We aim to provide quality at reasonable prices.
    • They need to decrease costs while maintaining quality.
    • of quality contemporary writers of quality
    • Get it right, even if it takes time; it's quality not quantity that matters.
    see also total quality management
    Extra Examples
    • We offer unbeatable performance and quality in all our products.
    • How can we increase production without sacrificing quality?
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • excellent
    • exceptional
    • good
    verb + quality
    • maintain
    • enhance
    • improve
    quality + verb
    • vary
    • improve
    • go down
    quality + noun
    • control
    • assurance
    • standards
    preposition
    • of…quality
    phrases
    • quality of life
    See full entry
  3. [countable] a thing that is part of a person’s character, especially something good
    • personal qualities such as honesty and generosity
    • to have leadership qualities
    • She has all the qualities of a good teacher.
    • It's hard to find people with the right qualities for the job.
    • He has a lot of good qualities.
    Extra Examples
    • He showed great energy and leadership qualities.
    • I found him thoroughly unpleasant, with no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
    Topics Personal qualitiesb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • admirable
    • desirable
    • endearing
    verb + quality
    • have
    • possess
    • display
    See full entry
  4. [countable, uncountable] a feature of somebody/something, especially one that makes them different from somebody/something else
    • the special quality of light and shade in her paintings
    • His voice has a rich, melodic quality.
    Extra Examples
    • The ancient city of Assisi has a wonderful magical quality.
    • The music gives the movie a dreamlike quality.
    • They have real star quality.
    • a singer with that elusive quality that makes a superstar
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • admirable
    • desirable
    • endearing
    verb + quality
    • have
    • possess
    • display
    See full entry
  5. (also more frequent quality newspaper)
    (British English) [countable] a newspaper that deals seriously with issues and has a high standard of editing and comment
  6. Word OriginMiddle English (in the senses ‘character, disposition’ and ‘particular property or feature’): from Old French qualite, from Latin qualitas (translating Greek poiotēs), from qualis ‘of what kind, of such a kind’.
See quality in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee quality in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
dizzy
adjective
 
 
From the Topic
Health problems
C1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day