trophy

[ troh-fee ]

See synonyms for: trophy trophies on Thesaurus.com

noun,plural tro·phies.

anything taken in war, hunting, competition, etc., especially when preserved as a memento; spoil, prize, or award.
anything serving as a token or evidence of victory, valor, skill, etc.: a sports trophy.

a symbol of success that is used to impress others: He bought the lavish home as a trophy.
a carving, painting, or other representation of objects associated with or symbolic of victory or achievement.
any memento or memorial.
a memorial erected by certain ancient peoples, especially the Greeks and Romans, in commemoration of a victory in war and consisting of arms or other spoils taken from the enemy and hung upon a tree, pillar, or the like.

adjective

noting or relating to a symbol of success that is used to impress others: They just want a near-perfect trophy child to brag about.

Origin of trophy

1505–15; earlier trophe<French trophée<Latin trop(h)aeum<Greek trópaion, noun use of neuter of trópaios,Attic variant of tropaîos of turning or putting to flight, equivalent to trop(ḗ) a turning (akin to trépein to turn) + -aios adj. suffix. See trope

Other words from trophy

tro·phy·less, adjective

Words Nearby trophy

Other definitions for -trophy (2 of 2)

-trophy

a combining form used in the formation of nouns with the general senses “nourishment, feeding” (mycotrophy), “growth” (hypertrophy); also forming abstract nouns corresponding to adjectives ending in -trophic.

Origin of -trophy

<Greek -trophia nutrition, equivalent to troph(ḗ) food + -ia-y³

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use trophy in a sentence

As for Tampa Bay, the Bolts are in danger of coughing away yet another golden opportunity to add to their trophy case.
The Dallas Stars Are Putting Their Regular-Season Shortcomings Behind Them | Terrence Doyle | September 21, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight
“Succession” star Jeremy Strong won the drama actor trophy for his role as an aspiring heir.
‘Succession’ wins best drama, while ‘Schitt’s Creek’ sweeps the Emmy Awards | radmarya | September 21, 2020 | Fortune
Khadija Siddique come around to her son’s choice of careers, as Ash now makes enough money to support his family, which, he says, is a far bigger award than any trophy.
An Unlikely Esports Star Emerges From Pakistan | Daniel Malloy | August 21, 2020 | Ozy
So when domestic rival Liverpool was eliminated in early March, it appeared as though the only thing that stood between City and its first ever Champions League trophy was Bayern.
After Manchester City’s Big Loss, Who’s The Favorite To Win The Champions League? | Terrence Doyle | August 18, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight
The Bavarian club is now the heavy favorite to lift the Champions League trophy, and for good reason.
After Manchester City’s Big Loss, Who’s The Favorite To Win The Champions League? | Terrence Doyle | August 18, 2020 | FiveThirtyEight

In straight relationships with an age gap, words like ‘gold-digger’ and ‘trophy wife’ get thrown around.
Freaking Out About Age Gaps in Gay Relationships Is Homophobic | Samantha Allen | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Get a thrill, get off a lucky shot, take home a trophy, put it up in a secret chamber of our heart.
McConaughey’s ‘Stand’—And Ours | James Poulos | December 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“Management” in this situation means issuing permits for trophy grizzly hunts.
What It Takes to Kill a Grizzly Bear | Doug Peacock | November 23, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The charity gets its name from the symbolic date when the America's Cup trophy left the U.K.
The Disappearance of Kate Middleton | Tom Sykes | October 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Its horrific title aside, trophy Wife was the closest thing in style, tone, and humor to Modern Family that ABC had ever produced.
‘black-ish’ Is the New ‘Modern Family’ | Kevin Fallon | October 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Sometimes Yung Pak would be the winner, and then he would march home with great glee and show the trophy to his father.
Our Little Korean Cousin | H. Lee M. Pike
Some of the soldiers insisted on skinning the beast and taking the skin along as a trophy.
The Courier of the Ozarks | Byron A. Dunn
The dæmon of anarchy has here raised a superb trophy on a monument of ruins.
Travels through the South of France and the Interior of Provinces of Provence and Languedoc in the Years 1807 and 1808 | Lt-Col. Pinkney
Then she started back for the caves taking the slat of wood with her as a trophy.
The Beach of Dreams | H. De Vere Stacpoole
I presented my trophy and treasure-trove to the fairy-like Miss Wee-wee.
Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. | F. Anstey

British Dictionary definitions for trophy (1 of 2)

trophy

/ (ˈtrəʊfɪ) /

nounplural -phies

an object such as a silver or gold cup that is symbolic of victory in a contest, esp a sporting contest; prize
a memento of success, esp one taken in war or hunting

(in ancient Greece and Rome)
- a memorial to a victory, usually consisting of captured arms raised on the battlefield or in a public place
- a representation of such a memorial
an ornamental carving that represents a group of weapons, etc
(modifier) informal highly desirable and regarded as a symbol of wealth or success: a trophy wife

Origin of trophy

C16: from French trophée, from Latin tropaeum, from Greek tropaion, from tropē a turning, defeat of the enemy; related to Greek trepein to turn

British Dictionary definitions for -trophy (2 of 2)

-trophy

n combining form

indicating a certain type of nourishment or growth: dystrophy

Origin of -trophy

from Greek -trophia, from trophē nourishment

Derived forms of -trophy

-trophic, adj combining form

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Browse