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
Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 4 Oct. 2025
Unwind by one of two pools, retreat to a private cabana, or stroll along the expansive stretch of pristine beachfront.
—Angela Caraway-Carlton, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2025
While there are traditional outdoor things to do in Sylva, such as hiking through Pinnacle Park or fly fishing in its pristine streams, there are other highlights in store.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 4 Oct. 2025
Here’s how a heat pump works, and why this is a technology to keep an eye on even if your HVAC is in pristine shape.
—Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 2 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Pristine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pristine. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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pristine
adjective
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