pristine

adjective

pris·​tine ˈpri-ˌstēn 

pri-ˈstēn,

 especially British  ˈpri-ˌstīn

1

: belonging to the earliest period or state : original

the hypothetical pristine lunar atmosphere

2

a

: not spoiled, corrupted, or polluted (as by civilization) : pure

a pristine forest

b

: fresh and clean as or as if new

used books in pristine condition

pristinely adverb

Did you know?

When pristine was anglicized in the 16th century, people borrowed the meanings of "early" and "original" from the Latin word pristinus and applied those meanings to what is desirable as well as to what is not. But it has long been a tendency of civilized people to admire a simpler and unsullied past. The supposition is that when things were in their oldest or original state, they were better. Thus, pristine was extended to describe the notion of an unspoiled, uncorrupted, or unpolluted state. And what is unspoiled or uncontaminated may connote the freshness and cleanness of something that has just been made, which explains how pristine has also come to mean "fresh and clean."

Synonyms

• brand-new
• fresh
• mint
• span-new
• virgin
• virginal

Examples of pristine in a Sentence

My office is a mess but her office is always pristine.

He was wearing a pristine white shirt.

Recent Examples on the Web

The pristine spot, also appropriately known as Billionaire Bunker, couldn’t be any more perfect for him. —Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 22 Apr. 2024

Nine more wiggly miles south, McWay Falls cascades onto a pristine beach at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. —Elaine Glusac, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2024

If scientists want to sample ancient ice in its pristine form in the solar system, Solomon says, the best source is probably Mercury’s poles. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024

Always practice Leave No Trace principles when out enjoying wilderness areas so that everyone can continue to experience them as pristine. —Mindy Sink, The Denver Post, 16 Apr. 2024

That player, who began the game wearing a pristine home white Dodgers uniform with the No. 42 on the back, was Jack Roosevelt Robinson. —Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 14 Apr. 2024

And Stone stepped out in pristine wide-leg trousers that elongated her figure for Paris Fashion Week, proving that white pants can make an impact for more elegant affairs. —Jennifer Chan, Peoplemag, 14 Apr. 2024

And anyway, anyone who has seen the act live knows there’s no better Justice marketing tool than a Justice show — a quasi-religious experience that amalgamates the entirety of the duo’s catalog into a wall of pummeling, pristine electronic glory. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2024

Finally, the installation team arrives to build out the new system, ensuring timely and efficient renovation with pristine clean-up. —Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin pristinus; akin to Latin prior

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pristine

• pristine condition

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Kids Definition

pristine

adjective

pris·​tine ˈpris-ˌtēn 

1

: not spoiled, polluted, or corrupted (as by civilization)

a pristine forest

2

: being fresh and clean

pristine new math books