pristine

adjective pris·tine \ ˈpris-ˌtēn , pri-ˈstēn , especially British ˈpris-ˌtīn \

Definition of pristine

1 :belonging to the earliest period or state :original

the hypothetical pristine lunar atmosphere

2 a :not spoiled, corrupted, or polluted (as by civilization) :pure

a pristine forest

b :fresh and clean as or as if new

used books in pristine condition

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pristinely

adverb

See pristine defined for English-language learners

See pristine defined for kids

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Examples of pristine in a Sentence

My office is a mess but her office is always pristine.
He was wearing a pristine white shirt.

Recent Examples of pristine from the Web

Menu prices are high for these pristine piscine entrees but well worth it.

— victoria pesce elliott, miamiherald, "This new Italian restaurant spotted our food critic on one visit. Would it affect the experience?," 25 Aug. 2017
All of these pristine relics of childhood past, however, could not stay in the playroom.

— Cincinnati.com, "Column: Growing twins and giving away books," 21 Aug. 2017
The defendable record at 1 ¼ miles, a pristine 3-0 coming in, is gone now, too.

— bryce miller, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Arrogate's near miss at Del Mar breathes new life into Breeders' Cup," 19 Aug. 2017
And what better way to do it than with a few of your closest friends who can relax along with you as you wine, dine, and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of South Walton's pristine white beaches?

— tara massouleh, AL.com, "Get away with the girls at this beachfront resort," 4 Aug. 2017
Wearing nothing but a bikini bottom and her engagement ring, the birthday girl posed topless while taking in the gorgeous views of the pristine ocean.

— peggy truong, Cosmopolitan, "Julianne Hough Took a Topless Break From Her Honeymoon to Celebrate Her Birthday," 20 July 2017
Shaving walnuts on a Microplane allows Centeno to shade pristine baby carrots with a pesto made from their tops.

— garrett snyder, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Los Angeles Magazine Hot Restaurant List for July 2017," 18 July 2017
The eclipse appeared as a cosmic vision in the pristine skies.

— david makepeace, Popular Mechanics, "The Well-Traveled, Cosmically Enlightened Life of an Eclipse Chaser," 17 July 2017
Strolling the wide, pristine boardwalk along the always-bustling Jumeirah Beach Road, a major thoroughfare that stretches from the entrance to the famed Palm Island to the Dubai Marina, every language of the world can be heard.

— jenny b. davis, star-telegram, "From shimmering sand dunes to glimmering skyscrapers, everything blings in Dubai," 17 July 2017

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

Did You Know?

When pristine was anglicized in the 16th century, people borrowed the meanings of "early" and "original" from the Latin word pristinus and applied those meanings to what is desirable as well as to what is not. But it has long been a tendency of civilized people to admire a simpler and unsullied past. The supposition is that when things were in their oldest or original state, they were better. Thus, pristine was extended to describe the notion of an unspoiled, uncorrupted, or unpolluted state. And what is unspoiled or uncontaminated may connote the freshness and cleanness of something that has just been made, which explains how pristine has also come to mean "fresh and clean."