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
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
The lack of evangelical Christians at America’s most prestigious institutions fuels mistrust.
—Aaron M. Renn, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2026
This follows on the heels of Amazon’s acquisition of MGM and its prestigious library and IP, as well as Disney’s deal for 20th Century Fox assets.
—Dick Lippin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
The prize, which includes 2 million Swedish kronor (US $218,000), a Hasselblad camera, and a gold medal, is considered the world’s most prestigious given in recognition of a living photographer.
—News Desk, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for prestigious
Cite this Entry
“Prestigious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prestigious. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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