prestigious
preh-STIHD-zhuhs
Prestigious (adj) means Widely admired and respected because of high status, quality, or achievement. Example: “He hopes to win a prestigious prize for his first novel.”
adj
1
Widely admired and respected because of high status, quality, or achievement.
"He hopes to win a prestigious prize for his first novel."
"She landed a prestigious internship at a top law firm."
"Oxford is one of the most prestigious universities in the world."
How to use prestigious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something so respected or high-status that being associated with it is itself an achievement.
Common pairings
a prestigious award
a prestigious university
prestigious clients
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more prestigious
- Superlative
- most prestigious
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He hopes to win a _____ prize for his first novel.
Etymology
From Latin praestigiosus, "full of tricks" — the word originally meant deceptive or illusory before it softened into "impressively reputable."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for prestigious
See all rhymes for prestigious →Frequently asked questions
What does “prestigious” mean?
The word “prestigious” means widely admired and respected because of high status, quality, or achievement. In plain terms, describes something so respected or high-status that being associated with it is itself an achievement.
How do you pronounce “prestigious”?
“Prestigious” is pronounced preh-STIHD-zhuhs (/pɹɛˈstiːd͡ʒəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “prestigious” in a sentence?
Here is “prestigious” used in a sentence: “She landed a prestigious internship at a top law firm.”
What part of speech is “prestigious”?
“Prestigious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “prestigious” come from?
The word “prestigious” comes from Latin. From Latin praestigiosus, "full of tricks" — the word originally meant deceptive or illusory before it softened into "impressively reputable.".
Is “prestigious” a common word?
“Prestigious” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between prestigious and popular?
Prestigious describes something widely admired and respected because of high status, quality, or achievement, while popular simply means widely liked or used. Something can be popular without being prestigious, and prestigious things are not always the most popular.
What kinds of things are described as prestigious?
Prestigious is commonly used for institutions, awards, jobs, and events that carry high status, such as a prestigious university, a prestigious award, or a prestigious law firm.
Is prestigious a formal word?
Prestigious is neutral to formal and appears frequently in both everyday and professional or academic writing when describing reputation and status.
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