trophy

1 of 2

noun

tro·​phy ˈtrō-fē 

plural trophies

1

: something gained or given in victory or conquest especially when preserved or mounted as a memorial

2

a

: a memorial of an ancient Greek or Roman victory raised on the field of battle or on the nearest land for a naval victory

b

: a representation of such a memorial (as on a medal)

also : an architectural ornament representing a group of military weapons

3

: a game animal or fish suitable for mounting as a trophy

—usually used attributively

4

: one that is prized for qualities that enhance prestige or social status

—usually used attributively

a trophy wife

a trophy house

trophy transitive verb

-trophy

2 of 2

noun combining form

: nutrition : nurture : growth

dystrophy

Synonyms of trophy

Noun

• jewel
• treasure
• honor

Examples of trophy in a Sentence

Noun

the mogul's latest trophies include a winter mansion in the Bahamas and a new sports car

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Rebels have won the last two matchups in the rivalry, retaining the Golden Pineapple trophy last year with a 29-27 win in Honolulu. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Nov. 2025

The American auteur and Spanish icon were among 12 film luminaries honored with the festival’s Stella della Mole trophy, modeled on the 12-point star that crowns Turin’s iconic National Cinema Museum. —Ben Croll, Variety, 22 Nov. 2025

And in the Baltic Film Competition, Vytautas Katkus‘ The Visitor, a meditation on solitude; took home the best film award, while Gabriele Urbonaite won the best director trophy for her feature directorial debut Renovation, about a woman turning 30 who faces cracks in the wall and her life. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 22 Nov. 2025

Inter Miami is three wins away from lifting its first MLS Cup trophy. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 22 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French trophee, from Medieval Latin tropheum, from Latin tropaeum, trophaeum, from Greek tropaion, from neuter of tropaios of a turning, of a rout, from tropē turn, rout, from trepein to turn

Noun combining form

New Latin -trophia, from Greek, from -trophos nourishing, from trephein

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing trophy

• trophy wife

Rhymes for trophy

• sophy
• trophy
• hypertrophy
• theosophy

Kids Definition

trophy

noun

tro·​phy ˈtrō-fē 

plural trophies

1

: something taken from the enemy in victory or conquest especially when kept and displayed as proof of one's bravery or victory

took the enemy's flags as trophies

2

: something given in recognition of a victory or as an award for achievement

a golf trophy

trophied

-fēd

adjective