illustrious
[ih-luhs-tree-uhs]
- highly distinguished; renowned; famous: an illustrious leader.
- glorious, as deeds or works: many illustrious achievements.
- Obsolete. luminous; bright.
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Origin of illustrious
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
noblerenownedsplendidremarkableoutstandingexaltedfamedeminentwell-knowndistinguishedgloriousloftyesteemedbrilliantcelebratedgreatheavymonsternamenotableExamples from the Web for illustrious
Contemporary Examples
And I realized that a man had to be pretty sure of himself, because she was quite an illustrious person.
Terman and his assistant relied on biographical accounts of illustrious individuals to compute the scores.
In The House of Rothschild, I identified at least three members of that illustrious financial dynasty as gay.
Sunday's event would have been much better served had its illustrious panel reckoned honestly with this question.
Downton Abbey, she said, stands out in her long and illustrious career because of “its universal appeal.”
Historical Examples
All the other statues and drawings of your illustrious kinsman are at your disposal.
PhilotheaLydia Maria Child
Beneath were the illustrious dead; around were the illustrious living.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
There was but one feeling,—that England had lost one of her most illustrious statesmen.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
The aged and illustrious man had done what the poor boy refused to do.
Biographical StoriesNathaniel Hawthorne
Joseph afterward was an illustrious specimen of this disposition.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IFrancis Augustus Cox
illustrious
- of great renown; famous and distinguished
- glorious or greatillustrious deeds
- obsolete shining
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin illustris bright, distinguished, famous, from illustrāre to make light; see illustrate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for illustrious
adj.
1560s, from Latin illustris "lighted, bright, brilliant;" figuratively "distinguished, famous," probably a back-formation from illustrare "embellish, distinguish, make famous" (see illustration). Sometimes also illustrous. Replaced illustre in same sense (mid-15c.), from Middle French illustre.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper