illustrious
Americanadjective
-
highly distinguished; renowned; famous.
an illustrious leader.
- Synonyms:
- famed, eminent, celebrated
-
glorious, as deeds or works.
many illustrious achievements.
-
Obsolete. luminous; bright.
adjective
-
of great renown; famous and distinguished
-
glorious or great
illustrious deeds
-
obsolete shining
Other Word Forms
- illustriously adverb
- illustriousness noun
- unillustrious adjective
- unillustriously adverb
- unillustriousness noun
Etymology
Origin of illustrious
1560–70; < Latin illustri ( s ) bright, clear, famous (equivalent to illustr ( āre ) to brighten ( il- 1, luster 1 ) + -is adj. suffix) + -ous
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The 74-year-old had an illustrious playing career which included spells at Liverpool, Hamburg, Southampton and Newcastle United, while he twice won the European Footballer of the Year award.
From BBC
He has been at United since he was a young lad, has worked under the great Sir Alex Ferguson and played alongside some of the most illustrious names in the club's long history.
From BBC
Far from winding down, Morris embarked on what would be an illustrious post-playing career, first as technical coaching director with the ECB.
From BBC
Robertson featured in BBC Scotland's Icons of Football earlier this year and here those who know him best look back on his illustrious career.
From BBC
And that final fight is now - Saturday night - in Washington DC, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career that has seen the American become one of wrestling's biggest and most bankable stars.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
