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

• 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

The 41-year-old, hailing from Chile, gained prominence after winning an annual modeling competition for Australian beauty magazine Dolly in 1998. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 26 June 2025

Candidate forums scheduled With the St. Paul DFL not hosting caucuses or endorsing conventions for Ward 4 this summer or in this year’s mayor’s race, other endorsements may gain more prominence, as could candidate forums. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 23 June 2025

Hamilton broke into the sport before the prominence of social media. —Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 June 2025

Part of it is as simple as giving prominence to the word ‘Paris’ in their branding. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 19 June 2025

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)