trophy

noun

Save Word

tro·phy | \ ˈtrō-fē

plural trophies

Definition of trophy

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2a : 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 wifea trophy house

-trophy

noun combining form

Definition of -trophy (Entry 2 of 2)

: nutrition : nurture : growth dystrophy

Other Words from trophy Synonyms Example Sentences Phrases Containing trophy Learn More About trophy

Examples of trophy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun And then the dancers came out to try to make that trophy their own. — Bill Keveney, USA TODAY, 20 Oct. 2020 The museum ultimately decided to remove 120 human remains, including the tsantsas, Naga trophy heads and an Egyptian mummy of a child. — Danica Kirka, USA TODAY, 15 Sep. 2020 The economics are similar to owning a blue chip investment bank, even if the social cachet is on another level (arch-rival Christie’s is owned by the Pinaults, no strangers to trophy assets). — Chris Hughes | Bloomberg, Washington Post, 18 June 2019 Fishermen are catching good to excellent numbers of silvery and post-spawn steelhead trout on the Rocky, Chagrin and Cuyahoga rivers, from young skippers to trophy trout. — cleveland.com, 13 Apr. 2018 What other sport can boast so many all-time superstars who never once got to hoist a trophy? — Jon Tayler, SI.com, 2 Nov. 2017 No area teams brought home trophies, but South Milwaukee finished third in Division 1 and Port Washington third in Division 2.. Middleton (76) and Stevens Point (177) finished ahead of South Milwaukee (191) in Division 1. — Mark Stewart, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2017 The Chargers get to keep the Battle for the Bell trophy, though. — David Carrillo Peñaloza, Daily Pilot, 27 Oct. 2017 There are still many trophy wives, princesses and doting mothers in denial about all the blood on the hands of their sons and husbands. — Malcolm Beith, Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2017 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trophy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for trophy

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