adjective
Uncommon
illustrious
ih-LUHS-trih-uhs
Illustrious (adjective) means Widely admired and respected, especially for great achievements. Example: “She had an illustrious career spanning four decades in medicine.”
adjective
1
Widely admired and respected, especially for great achievements.
"She had an illustrious career spanning four decades in medicine."
"The award honours the illustrious history of the university."
How to use illustrious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFamous and highly respected, usually because of a strong record of achievement.
Common pairings
illustrious career
illustrious history
illustrious reputation
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more illustrious
- Superlative
- most illustrious
Fill the gap
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She had an _____ career spanning four decades in medicine.
Etymology
From Latin illustris, "bright, distinguished," from illustrare, "to brighten, make famous."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for illustrious
See all rhymes for illustrious →Frequently asked questions
What does “illustrious” mean?
The word “illustrious” means widely admired and respected, especially for great achievements. In plain terms, famous and highly respected, usually because of a strong record of achievement.
How do you pronounce “illustrious”?
“Illustrious” is pronounced ih-LUHS-trih-uhs (/ɪˈlʌs.tɹi.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “illustrious” in a sentence?
Here is “illustrious” used in a sentence: “She had an illustrious career spanning four decades in medicine.”
What part of speech is “illustrious”?
“Illustrious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “illustrious” come from?
The word “illustrious” comes from Latin. From Latin illustris, "bright, distinguished," from illustrare, "to brighten, make famous.".
Is “illustrious” a common word?
“Illustrious” is an uncommon word in modern English.
