laureate

1 of 2

noun

lau·​re·​ate ˈlȯr-ē-ət 

ˈlär-

: the recipient of honor or recognition for achievement in an art or science

a Nobel laureate

specifically : poet laureate

laureateship

ˈlȯr-ē-ət-ˌship 

ˈlär-

noun

laureate

2 of 2

verb

lau·​re·​ate ˈlȯr-ē-ˌāt 

ˈlär-

laureated; laureating

transitive verb

1

: to crown with or as if with a laurel wreath for excellence or achievement

2

: to appoint to the office of poet laureate

laureation

ˌlȯr-ē-ˈā-shən 

ˌlär-

noun

Examples of laureate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

He[is conductor laureate of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, and has guest conducted for the German Chamber Orchestra of Bremen (Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen), the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Japan's NHK Symphony Orchestra. —Rana Wehbe Watson, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

Dudamel, who has led the orchestra since 2009, was announced last week as the organization’s new artistic and cultural laureate and founding director and conductor laureate of the Youth Orchestra. —Holly Alvarado, Daily News, 26 May 2026

Even Nobel laureates, such as Literature Prize winner Olga Tokarczuk, admit to using AI in their work. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 24 May 2026

At Forest Hills Stadium, catch the indie-rock outfit Wilco (June 20) and the folk-rock laureate Bob Dylan (July 21). —Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, crowned with laurel as a distinction, from Latin laureatus, from laurea laurel wreath, from feminine of laureus of laurel, from laurus

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1529, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing laureate

• poet laureate

Rhymes for laureate

• baccalaureate

Kids Definition

laureate

noun

lau·​re·​ate

ˈlȯr-ē-ət, 

ˈlär-

: a person honored for achievement in an art or science

especially : poet laureate

laureate adjective