prestigious

adjective

pres·ti·gious pre-ˈsti-jəs

-ˈstē-

also prə-

Synonyms of prestigious next

: having prestige : honored

archaic : of, relating to, or marked by illusion, conjuring, or trickery

prestigiously adverb

prestigiousness noun

Did you know?

You might expect, based on how adjectives are often formed in English, that today’s word is an extension of the noun prestige. However, although both words share the same Latin root, they entered English by different routes and at different times. Moreover, both adjective and noun once had more to do with trickery than respect when they were first used. Prestigious came directly from the Latin adjective praestigiosis, meaning “full of tricks” or “deceitful,” and had a similar meaning upon entering English in the mid-16th century. Praestigiosis in turn came from the plural noun praestigiae, meaning “conjurer’s tricks.” This noun also gave English the word prestige, though it first passed through French and arrived a century after prestigious. Though it wasn’t first on the block, prestige influenced prestigious in a different way, by eventually developing an extended sense of “standing or esteem.” That change spurred a similar development in prestigious, which now means simply “illustrious or esteemed.”

Examples of prestigious in a Sentence

a nutritional study that has been published by a prestigious medical journal the most prestigious social club in town

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

At the finish line of the 2015 Western States Endurance Run, arguably the most famous and most prestigious American ultramarathon, the crowd suddenly became energized. —

Brendan Leonard, Outside Online, 5 Nov. 2024 With offices in North America and Europe, Coppers and his team have worked with some of the world’s most prestigious brands to bring stories to life through elevated and immersive experiences. —

Meredith Ogilvie-Thompson, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024 The majority of the most prestigious movies come out toward the end of each year to stay fresh of mind for critics' lists and award nominations. —

Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 1 Nov. 2024 Milan is known for producing some of most established and prestigious designers in the world, but the influential fashion city is increasingly leaning into discovering and highlighting emerging talent. —

Fairchild Studio, WWD, 31 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for prestigious