prestige
Americannoun
-
reputation or influence arising from success, achievement, rank, or other favorable attributes.
- Synonyms:
- importance, weight
- Antonyms:
- disrepute
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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
noun
-
high status or reputation achieved through success, influence, wealth, etc; renown
-
-
the power to influence or impress; glamour
-
( modifier )
a prestige car
-
Other Word Forms
- prestigeful adjective
Etymology
Origin of prestige
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 )
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.
There's still prestige in being the first to plant your flag in the lunar dust.
From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026
The hosts discuss how billionaire dealmaking and rebrand fatigue is hurting the network’s reputation for edgy, prestige TV.
From Slate • Mar. 21, 2026
The director of “The Fly” and “Videodrome” isn’t in the film long, but he bequeaths prestige upon these splat-hijinks that they don’t quite deserve.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
Serving on the Berkshire board probably carries more prestige than that of any other major company.
From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026
For whatever reason, the immediate goal had been accomplished: after decades of struggle, black students had finally gained a toehold in the most cherished white institutions of power and prestige.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
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.
