pristine
adjective
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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."
Examples of pristine in a Sentence
Yolanda Watson Spiva, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Collectors have become increasingly fanatical about pristine fresh-to-market or new old-stock watches, but Biebuyck says the reality is that such specimens are incredibly rare.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 8 Nov. 2025
Close by is the Cahuita National Park, a key attraction where visitors can explore pristine beaches and coral reefs.
—Celia Fernandez, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
Without stretching their budget, travelers can enjoy 22 miles of pristine coastline or cross the bridge to hop on a shuttle with Explore Jax Core Tours, where the city’s history, culture, and future unfold through vivid storytelling and physical representation.
—Essence, 7 Nov. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Pristine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pristine. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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pristine
adjective
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