ex-cel-lence [ek´-suh-luhns] –noun 1. the fact or state of excelling; superiority; eminence: his excellence in mathematics. 2. an excellent quality or feature: Use of herbs is one of the excellences of French cuisine. Origin: 1350–1400; excellentia Synonyms: 1. preeminence, transcendence, distinction 2. merit, virtue Antonyms: 1. inferiority