prestigious
adjective
-ˈstē-
Did you know?
You might expect, based on how adjectives are often formed in English, that today’s word is an extension of the noun prestige. However, although both words share the same Latin root, they entered English by different routes and at different times. Moreover, both adjective and noun once had more to do with trickery than respect when they were first used. Prestigious came directly from the Latin adjective praestigiosis, meaning “full of tricks” or “deceitful,” and had a similar meaning upon entering English in the mid-16th century. Praestigiosis in turn came from the plural noun praestigiae, meaning “conjurer’s tricks.” This noun also gave English the word prestige, though it first passed through French and arrived a century after prestigious. Though it wasn’t first on the block, prestige influenced prestigious in a different way, by eventually developing an extended sense of “standing or esteem.” That change spurred a similar development in prestigious, which now means simply “illustrious or esteemed.”
Examples of prestigious in a Sentence
James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 23 Dec. 2025
Her work has also been recognized in Italy through prestigious collaborations and national awards, positioning her as a representative voice of contemporary Italian design.
—Footwear News, 23 Dec. 2025
Under Harper’s leadership, the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has hosted thousands of horse races, including the prestigious Breeders’ Cup in 2024 and 2025.
—Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Dec. 2025
The Kanneh-Masons have toured the world, recorded chart-topping albums and won prestigious awards.
—Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prestigious
Cite this Entry
“Prestigious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prestigious. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.
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