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adj Uncommon

pristine

PRIHS-teen

Pristine (adj) means Completely unspoiled and clean, as if untouched since it was made. Example: “The beach was pristine, without a single piece of litter.”

adj
1
Completely unspoiled and clean, as if untouched since it was made.
"The beach was pristine, without a single piece of litter."
"She kept her car in pristine condition for over a decade."
2
Belonging to an original or earliest state, before any change or development.
"Archaeologists study the pristine layers of rock beneath the city."

How to use pristine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPerfectly clean and unspoiled, like new.

Common pairings
pristine condition pristine wilderness kept pristine

Word forms

more pristine comparative, more pristine comparative, most pristine superlative, most pristine superlative

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The beach was _____, without a single piece of litter.

Etymology

From Latin pristinus, meaning "former" or "original" — related to the idea of something being in its very first, unaltered state.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for pristine

See all rhymes for pristine →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pristine” mean?

The word “pristine” means completely unspoiled and clean, as if untouched since it was made. In plain terms, perfectly clean and unspoiled, like new.

How do you pronounce “pristine”?

“Pristine” is pronounced PRIHS-teen (/ˈprɪˌstin/ in IPA).

How do you use “pristine” in a sentence?

Here is “pristine” used in a sentence: “The beach was pristine, without a single piece of litter.”

What part of speech is “pristine”?

“Pristine” is an adjective.

Where does the word “pristine” come from?

The word “pristine” comes from Latin. From Latin pristinus, meaning "former" or "original" — related to the idea of something being in its very first, unaltered state.

Is “pristine” a common word?

“Pristine” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “pristine” have?

“Pristine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: completely unspoiled and clean, as if untouched since it was made.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial