prominence

noun

prom·​i·​nence ˈprä-mə-nən(t)s 

ˈpräm-nən(t)s

1

: something prominent : projection

a rocky prominence

2

: the quality, state, or fact of being prominent or conspicuous

3

: a mass of gas resembling a cloud that arises from the chromosphere of the sun

Synonyms of prominence

• hill
• mound
• eminence
• elevation
• mountain
• cliff

Examples of prominence in a Sentence

The company rose to prominence in the 1990s.

The publicity has given him a prominence he doesn't deserve.

Recent Examples on the Web

His newfound prominence and flamboyance — the eyeliner, the frequent shirtlessness, the leather pants — attract some vocal haters, but he’s gotten used to it. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2026

Wine came to prominence in the early 2000s for his vibrant dancehall music, which often addressed social injustices. —Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 14 Jan. 2026

Best known for its prominence during the NFT boom of 2021 and 2022, Polygon has made significant investments in payments over the past year, even poaching Stripe’s head of crypto, John Egan. —Ben Weiss, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026

The angle certainly worked for the revolutionary-minded Disney+ series Andor, which might be the best thing the Star Wars franchise has produced in five decades of pop-culture prominence. —Judy Berman, Time, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin prōminentia "state of projecting or jutting out," noun derivative of prōminent-, prōminens "projecting, standing out," from present participle of prōminēre "to project beyond a surface, stick out, stick up" — more at prominent

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for prominence

• dominance
• predominance

Kids Definition

prominence

noun

prom·​i·​nence ˈpräm(-ə)-nən(t)s 

1

: the quality, state, or fact of being prominent : distinction

a person of prominence

2

: something (as a mountain) that is prominent

3

: a mass of gas resembling a cloud that arises from the chromosphere of the sun

Medical Definition

prominence

noun

prom·​i·​nence ˈpräm(-ə)-nən(t)s 

: an elevation or projection on an anatomical structure (as a bone)