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

Postecoglou’s tumultuous tenure followed another exit from a different English soccer club in June, when he was fired by Tottenham despite ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought with a win in the Europa League final over Manchester United. —Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025

Memphis has held the Battle for the Bones trophy — introduced in 2006 — since 2012, covering the teams’ last three meetings, including a 53-18 Tigers victory at Memphis last November. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

Ultimately, the series only claimed one trophy in the 19 categories in which it was nominated on Friday. —Liza Esquibias, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025

The Argentine legend entered the game as the leading candidate to become the first player in MLS history to win back-to-back MVP trophies. —Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 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