noun / adjective
quality
KWAH-luh-tee/ˈkwɑːləti/
A characteristic by which something is described or assessed.
Sturdiness is a quality that distinguishes the well-made chair from the wobbly one.
Etymology
Built on the idea of what kind something is, quality first described its nature or character. That descriptive sense extended to evaluation: the degree of goodness or excellence it possesses.
In context
The quality of this graphite, from its softness and sheen to its particle size, plays a crucial role in determining how the pencil feels in hand, how smoothly it writes, and how durable the core will be
More examples
- Her voice has a warm, soothing quality.
- We check the quality of every batch before shipping.
- Quality tools can last for many years.
Forms
quality · qualities
qualitative adjective — Describing qualities rather than measuring amounts.
Similar words
- characteristic
- Emphasizes a feature that helps identify or describe something.
- trait
- Usually describes a lasting feature of someone's personality.
- caliber
- Refers specifically to a level of ability or excellence.