prestigious
Americanadjective
-
indicative of or conferring prestige.
the most prestigious address in town.
- Synonyms:
- distinguished
-
having a high reputation; honored; esteemed.
a prestigious author.
- Synonyms:
- notable, illustrious
adjective
-
having status or glamour; impressive or influential
-
rare characterized by or using deceit, cunning, or illusion; fraudulent
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of prestigious
First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin praestigiōsus “full of tricks, deceitful,” from praestigi(ae) “juggler's tricks” ( see prestige) + -ōsus -ous
Explanation
Eagle Scout is a prestigious position within the Boy Scouts. It requires a lot of hard work over a number of years, and if you become one, lots of people will respect you. The adjective prestigious has a really wonderful Latin root, praestigiae, which means "conjuring tricks." Think of the magic word, "Presto!" Even though today's prestigious doesn't necessarily mean that the person described can do magic, imagining prestigious people as magicians can help you remember the admiration and status that the word implies.
Vocabulary lists containing prestigious
The Hunger Games
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This Week in Words: October 22 - 27, 2017
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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.
His bantam squads were among the best in the country and seven of his players were invited to USA Hockey’s prestigious National Team Development Program Evaluation Camps.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
Those experiments recently earned the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, one of the world's most prestigious science awards.
From Science Daily • May 19, 2026
“Perched at the highest point within the prestigious Laughlin Park enclave, the grounds command sweeping views of the Hollywood Hills and Griffith Observatory—adding further romance to this timeless legacy estate,” the description adds.
From MarketWatch • May 19, 2026
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, widely regarded as the most prestigious of Britain's flower shows, is now under way in London.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
Maybe being the least prestigious, poorest, most ridiculed district in the country has its advantages.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
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.
