# excellency

/ˈɛkˈsɫɛnsi/ (US) · /ˈɛksələnsi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/excellency
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. the quality of being excellent

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

the state of being extremely good or of very high quality.

For teachers: The quality or state of being excellent; a synonym for excellence now largely replaced by the latter in modern usage.

- The excellency of the local craftsmanship was famous throughout the region.
- The poet spent his final years praising the moral excellency of his patrons in a series of elaborate dedications.

Teaching tip: In modern English, 'excellence' is the standard term; 'excellency' in this sense is found almost exclusively in historical or religious texts.

## Examples

- Your Excellency, the guests have arrived for the dinner.
- The protocol officer reminded the staff to address the visiting ambassador as 'His Excellency' during the formal reception.
- While the term is often reserved for diplomatic circles, certain ecclesiastical and governmental traditions maintain the use of 'Excellency' to denote the high status of the office holder.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.