pristine
adjective
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."
Examples of pristine in a Sentence
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
24 June 2026
There’s no swanky reception desk, no concierge in pristine uniform, no formalities at all in fact.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 June 2026
Estadio Azteca, Mexico City The most pristine presentation has arguably come from Mexico City, which replaced Estadio Banorte with the official FIFA name of Estadio Ciudad de Mexico (Mexico City Stadium).
—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
23 June 2026
Luxus focuses on pristine-condition assets with clear provenance, reducing risks associated with counterfeits and quality degradation.
—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pristine
Cite this Entry
“Pristine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pristine. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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pristine
adjective
