pristine
Americanadjective
-
having its original purity; uncorrupted or unsullied.
- Synonyms:
- untouched, unpolluted
-
of or relating to the earliest period or state; primitive.
adjective
-
of or involving the earliest period, state, etc; original
-
pure; uncorrupted
-
fresh, clean, and unspoiled
his pristine new car
Usage
The use of pristine to mean fresh, clean, and unspoiled is considered by some people to be incorrect
Etymology
Origin of pristine
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin pristinus “early”; akin to primus prime
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.
Some students — like the owner of a pristine 1960s Chevrolet Impala — entertained a crowd of oglers with their immaculate engine bays and pristine paint jobs.
From Los Angeles Times
Inside, officers uncovered a pristine military uniform, medals and a ceremonial sword - a weapon that had first sparked suspicions.
From BBC
"So we get a really pristine spectrum. And we can better study this system in more detail than normal exoplanets."
From Science Daily
One area of concern is the formation of smog plumes that, despite occurring in a region often viewed as pristine, can reach pollution levels similar to major cities such as Los Angeles.
From Science Daily
An oil tanker is upended in a lake, leaving a slick in the previously pristine water.
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.
