quantity

/ˈkwɑːntəti/

Say it: KWAHN-tuh-tee

1. noun The amount or number of a material or abstract thing that can be measured or counted.
The police found a large quantity of stolen goods in the warehouse.
2. noun A large or considerable amount of something.
Buying supplies in quantity usually results in a lower price per unit.
3. noun A property of something that can be determined by measurement.
In physics, speed is a scalar quantity, while velocity is a vector quantity.
4. noun In linguistics and poetry, the length of time taken to pronounce a vowel or syllable.
Classical Latin verse is based on syllable quantity, not on stress.

📖 Seen in the wild

The recipe calls for a small quantity of sugar.
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✏️ quantity in a sentence

The recipe calls for a small quantity of salt.
We are more concerned with quality than quantity in our hiring process.
An unknown quantity in the election is how younger voters will turn out.
The sheer quantity of data was overwhelming for the research team.
He possesses in great quantity the one asset that matters most: determination.
The report quantifies the total quantity of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

amount number volume measure sum total supply portion

amount · often preferred for things that cannot be counted individually, like 'an amount of water'.

number · used specifically for things that can be counted, like 'a number of people'.

volume · refers to the amount of three-dimensional space something occupies.

measure · implies a specific, standardized unit or a careful assessment.

Opposites: quality, lack, scarcity, dearth

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'quantity' arrived in English in the 14th century from the Old French 'quantité'. This French term came directly from the Latin 'quantitas', meaning 'amount' or 'magnitude', which itself was derived from 'quantus', meaning 'how much'. Its initial use in English was often in philosophy and mathematics before it gained its common, everyday meaning.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

a large/small quantitya certain quantitybuy in quantityan unknown quantityquantity of goods

'Quantity' is a versatile word for both countable and uncountable things, but it can sound more formal or technical than its common synonyms. For everyday use, 'amount' is standard for uncountable nouns (an amount of sand) and 'number' for countable ones (a number of chairs). The most common mistake is confusing it with 'quality'; remember that quantity is about 'how much' and quality is about 'how good'.

Word family: quantify, quantitative, quantifiable, quantitation

💬 Quick answers

What does quantity mean?

Quantity refers to the amount or number of something, especially an amount that can be measured or counted.

What is the difference between quantity and quality?

Quantity is about how much of something there is (the amount), while quality is about how good it is (the standard). The phrase 'quality over quantity' highlights this common distinction.

Is 'quantity' used for countable or uncountable things?

It can be used for both. You can have a quantity of books (countable) or a quantity of water (uncountable), making it a versatile but slightly more formal alternative to 'number' or 'amount'.

What is an 'unknown quantity'?

An 'unknown quantity' is a person or thing whose influence or effect on a situation is not yet known. It's an idiom used to describe an unpredictable factor.

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