trophy

1 of 2

noun

tro·​phy ˈtrō-fē 

plural trophies

1

: something gained or given in victory or conquest especially when preserved or mounted as a memorial

2

a

: a memorial of an ancient Greek or Roman victory raised on the field of battle or on the nearest land for a naval victory

b

: a representation of such a memorial (as on a medal)

also : an architectural ornament representing a group of military weapons

3

: a game animal or fish suitable for mounting as a trophy

—usually used attributively

4

: one that is prized for qualities that enhance prestige or social status

—usually used attributively

a trophy wife

a trophy house

trophy transitive verb

-trophy

2 of 2

noun combining form

: nutrition : nurture : growth

dystrophy

Synonyms

Noun

• jewel
• treasure
• honor

Examples of trophy in a Sentence

Noun

the mogul's latest trophies include a winter mansion in the Bahamas and a new sports car

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Overall, the ComMarker Omni X is one slick beast of a UV laser engraver for professionals that run trophy or custom engraving shops down to the regular ol' Joe Schmoe who's got a few bucks to spare ($4,599 of them, to be specific) and really likes to laser-engrave things. —New Atlas, 28 Sep. 2025

Busquets’ teammates would like to send the legend off with the club’s first MLS Cup trophy. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025

Award trophies designed by Palme d’Or winner Apichatpong Weerasethakul added artistic gravitas to the proceedings. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025

The former YouTube creator gave Anik a shoutout after winning a trophy for outstanding writing for a comedy series. —Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French trophee, from Medieval Latin tropheum, from Latin tropaeum, trophaeum, from Greek tropaion, from neuter of tropaios of a turning, of a rout, from tropē turn, rout, from trepein to turn

Noun combining form

New Latin -trophia, from Greek, from -trophos nourishing, from trephein

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing trophy

• trophy wife

Rhymes for trophy

• sophy
• trophy
• hypertrophy
• theosophy

Kids Definition

trophy

noun

tro·​phy ˈtrō-fē 

plural trophies

1

: something taken from the enemy in victory or conquest especially when kept and displayed as proof of one's bravery or victory

took the enemy's flags as trophies

2

: something given in recognition of a victory or as an award for achievement

a golf trophy

trophied

-fēd

adjective