Phrase guide

the quality

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The upper class, the high society, the gentry; the people of quality.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, archaic, idiomatic, plural, plural-only

Examples

  • 20 July 1713, Joseph Addison, The Guardian I shall appear at the masquerade dressed up in my feathers, that the quality may see how pretty they will look in their travelling habits.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Alternative letter-case form of the quality (the upper class)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, plural, plural-only

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From quality (“high social position”).

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: yläluokka — upper class
  • Finnish: säätyläistö — upper class
  • Hungarian: dzsentri — upper class
  • Polish: gentry — upper class