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

Never mind that other great coaches — Vince Lombardi (the guy the trophy is named after), Bill Walsh and Joe Gibbs — didn’t get in on the first ballot even without the stain of cheating. —Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026

O'Hara also won the lead actress in a comedy series trophy that same year, when the series swept the Emmys, with co-stars Annie Murphy, Dan and Eugene Levy also winning individual acting trophies. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026

Hopefully there’s more trophies, but — more than that — hopefully there are more memories. —Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026

Over the course of her meteoric career, Swift has been nominated for 58 Grammys and earned 14 trophies. —Kelsie Gibson, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026

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