prestige

noun

pres·​tige pre-ˈstēzh 

-ˈstēj

often attributive

1

: standing or estimation in the eyes of people : weight or credit in general opinion

2

: commanding position in people's minds

prestigeful

pre-ˈstēzh-fəl 

-ˈstēj-

adjective

Choose the Right Synonym for prestige

influence, authority, prestige, weight, credit mean power exerted over the minds or behavior of others.

influence may apply to a force exercised and received consciously or unconsciously.

used her influence to get the bill passed

authority implies the power of winning devotion or allegiance or of compelling acceptance and belief.

his opinions lacked authority

prestige implies the ascendancy given by conspicuous excellence or reputation for superiority.

the prestige of the newspaper

weight implies measurable or decisive influence in determining acts or choices.

their wishes obviously carried much weight

credit suggests influence that arises from the confidence of others.

his credit with the press

Examples of prestige in a Sentence

Her career as a diplomat has brought her enormous prestige.

The job has low pay and low prestige.

The family has wealth and social prestige.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lord and Sproxton, who first founded Aardman in 1972, were among a list of 1,182 new recipients of honors of varying degrees of prestige, announced on Friday and ranging from politicians to sports stars, actors, musicians and more. —Alex Ritman, Variety, 12 June 2026

George Orwell famously described national team football as war minus the shooting, believing the sport was driven by nationalism, hatred, and a desire for prestige rather than by fair play or goodwill. —Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026

Before prestige television rewrote the rules, there was an affable Brooklyn dad who made a generation of viewers to rethink their assumptions about gender, family, and who could run the show. —Jp Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026

Now’s your chance to score up to 30% off on prestige skincare, like SkinCeuticals—from its CE Ferulic vitamin C to the new P-Tiox serum designed to reduce the look of wrinkles and fine lines. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, conjuror's trick, illusion, from Latin praestigiae, plural, conjuror's tricks, from praestringere to graze, blunt, constrict, from prae- + stringere to bind tight — more at strain

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prestige

noun

pres·​tige pre-ˈstēzh 

-ˈstēj

: importance in the eyes of other people

prestigious

-ˈstij-əs

adjective

prestigiously adverb

prestigiousness noun