prestige
pres-TEEZH
/presˈtiːʒ/
Widespread respect and admiration felt for someone or something on the basis of their achievements or quality.
Carries a sense of high status and social standing that comes from excellence.
The story behind the word. Surprisingly, 'prestige' comes from the Latin 'praestigium,' meaning a juggler's trick or an illusion. It originally meant 'deception.' Over time, it shifted from the 'dazzle' of a trick to the 'dazzle' of high reputation and influence.
Word relationships
- reputation: Reputation can be good or bad; prestige is always positive and high-status.
- stature: Stature refers to the level of development or importance; prestige is the admiration that follows.
- insignificance: The state of being unimportant or having no status.
Commonly confused with
- notoriety: Notoriety is being famous for something bad; prestige is being respected for something good.
Word family
- prestigious (adjective): having high prestige
Collocations
- high prestige
- gain prestige
- international prestige
- prestige brand
Example sentences
- "The prestige of the Olympic Games attracts the world's greatest athletes." The value of an event.
- "The prestige of the Nobel Prize is such that it can change a scientist's life overnight." Real citation regarding reputation.
Memory hook
Think of a 'prestigious' person 'pressing' their 'image' into the minds of others. Prestige is the 'dazzle' of success.
When not to use
Don't use it for simple popularity; it requires a foundation of quality or achievement.
Fun facts
- In the 18th century, 'prestige' was still used to mean 'magic' or 'illusion' in French.
Explore more words
illustrious, renown, acclaim, revere, upstanding, veneration
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