prestige

[pre-steezh, -steej]

noun

1. reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, rank, or other favorable attributes.

   Synonyms: importance, weight
   Antonyms: disrepute

2. distinction or reputation attaching to a person or thing and thus possessing a cachet for others or for the public.

   The new discothèque has great prestige with the jet set.

adjective

1. having or showing success, rank, wealth, etc.

prestige

/ prɛˈstiːʒ /

noun

1. high status or reputation achieved through success, influence, wealth, etc; renown

2. 1. the power to influence or impress; glamour

   2. ( modifier )

      a prestige car

Other Word Forms

• prestigeful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of prestige¹

First recorded in 1650–60, for an earlier sense; from French (originally plural): “deceits, delusions, juggler's tricks,” from Latin praestīgiae “juggler's tricks,” variant of praestrīgiae, derivative of praestringere “to blind, blunt,” literally, “to bind hard, tie up,” from prae- pre- + stringere “to draw tight” ( stringent )

Word History and Origins

Origin of prestige¹

C17: via French from Latin praestigiae feats of juggling, tricks; apparently related to Latin praestringere to bind tightly, blindfold, from prae before + stringere to draw tight, bind

Example Sentences

These financial incentives, plus the prestige of being a national champion, have created a desperation among teams to find the best coaches out there.

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"It's about using the global prestige of the Premier League to sanitise a brutal human rights record."

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“Image is the weird, the prestige, the high and the low of this city. L.A. is not singular, it’s multifaceted, and tonight gives its flowers to that multidimensional L.A.,”

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An event that started off as a bluff has outgrown its genre roots to become a legitimate destination for rabid film fans, boasting rarities and prestige titles alike.

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For newer universities, with less of a reputation and prestige, income from the rest of the UK students is more limited.

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Related Words

• cachet 
• dignity 
• esteem 
• importance 
• power 
• prominence 
• reputation 
• standing 
• stature 
• status 
• weight