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

Noun

• boast
• credit
• crown jewel
• glory
• honor
• jewel
• pride
• treasure

Examples of trophy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Also as part of the Moana segment, NATO chair Bob Bagby surprised Johnson by presenting him with NATO’s spirit of the industry award, the second trophy of its kind following last year’s, which was presented to Christopher Nolan. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024

At the tournament, Logan and Cooper were given their own trophies to help celebrate with their father. —Adam England, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley raises the championship trophy during a celebration at Colonial Life Arena on Monday in Columbia, South Carolina. —Christopher Brito, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2024

Jelly Roll returned to the CMT Music Awards at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas, on Sunday and took home three trophies, including Video of the Year, Male Video of the Year, and CMT Performance of the Year. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024

Last year, Beyoncé broke the record for the most Grammys won by an artist in the award show’s history after taking home four trophies that night. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 7 Apr. 2024

So [trophy hunting] is never going to affect the population at the country level. —Kate Brady, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

Neither Germany nor the U.K. have banned trophy hunting domestically. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 3 Apr. 2024

He’s already won two races to start the year, taking home the trophies at Daytona and Atlanta to start the season. —Joseph Wolkin, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

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

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