prestige

noun, often attributive pres·tige \ pre-ˈstēzh , -ˈstēj \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: prestige in a Sentence

1 : standing or estimation in the eyes of people : weight or credit in general opinion

2 : commanding position in people's minds

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prestigeful

play \pre-ˈstēzh-fəl, -ˈstēj-\ adjective

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Examples of prestige in a Sentence

Her career as a diplomat has brought her enormous prestige.
The job has low pay and low prestige.
The family has wealth and social prestige.

Recent Examples of prestige from the Web

After the end of the Cold War, North Korea has yearned for international prestige.

— james pindell, BostonGlobe.com, "How both Trump and Kim have already won before they even shake hands," 11 June 2018
Its educational and environmental mission is also important, and the zoo's success adds to his hometown's prestige.

— carol motsinger, Cincinnati.com, "Meet Harry and Linda Fath. They just made the biggest donation ever to the Cincinnati Zoo," 7 June 2018
During Reisman’s tenure at the private company, SpaceX has been competing with Boeing for contract awards in the commercial crew program, along with the prestige of sending the first private spacecraft carrying humans into orbit.

— eric berger, Ars Technica, "SpaceX crew director moves to academia, says company will win race to space," 5 June 2018
Many do it for the prestige and for the chance to win a race that can change their lives forever.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "So you want to enter the Indy 500?," 24 May 2018
As if the world of television hasn’t had enough shake-ups lately, a potential power player has emerged in the prestige TV game: Fox Searchlight has launched a new TV division.

— laura bradley, HWD, "What Fox Searchlight’s New TV Division Means for the Future of Prestige TV," 11 Apr. 2018
Hell, even some reality shows are bordering on prestige.

— christopher rosa, Glamour, "19 TV Shows Everyone's Talking About Right Now," 11 Apr. 2018
And that’s where the true danger lies: in a prestige game between two nuclear powers led by imprudent leaders.

— jeet heer, The New Republic, "A Cold War Without Guard Rails," 10 Apr. 2018
The sudden boost in profile would have been antithetical to the culture of the building, which values quietness over prestige, said one former resident.

— daniel edward rosen, Daily Intelligencer, "The Obamas Aren’t Buying That Apartment on the Upper East Side," 12 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prestige.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of prestige

French, from Middle French, conjuror's trick, illusion, from Latin praestigiae, plural, conjuror's tricks, from praestringere to graze, blunt, constrict, from prae- + stringere to bind tight — more at strain

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1829

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of prestige

influence, authority, prestige, weight, credit mean power exerted over the minds or behavior of others. influence may apply to a force exercised and received consciously or unconsciously.