prestigious
adjective
-ˈstē-
Did you know?
You might expect, based on how adjectives are often formed in English, that today’s word is an extension of the noun prestige. However, although both words share the same Latin root, they entered English by different routes and at different times. Moreover, both adjective and noun once had more to do with trickery than respect when they were first used. Prestigious came directly from the Latin adjective praestigiosis, meaning “full of tricks” or “deceitful,” and had a similar meaning upon entering English in the mid-16th century. Praestigiosis in turn came from the plural noun praestigiae, meaning “conjurer’s tricks.” This noun also gave English the word prestige, though it first passed through French and arrived a century after prestigious. Though it wasn’t first on the block, prestige influenced prestigious in a different way, by eventually developing an extended sense of “standing or esteem.” That change spurred a similar development in prestigious, which now means simply “illustrious or esteemed.”
Examples of prestigious in a Sentence
Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 June 2025
During his 16 years tenure as CEO, David and his team helped to elevate the already prestigious brand to become one of the top luxury wines in the world, expanding distribution to over 90 countries and increasing the value of the brand from an average of $200 to over $500 per bottle.
—Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Many go on to secure prestigious new projects restoring or reimagining global landmarks.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
On May 22 and 23, the prestigious Kingpins Show landed in Hangzhou, China, infusing the city with a fresh wave of denim innovation.
—Carved, Sourcing Journal, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for prestigious
Cite this Entry
“Prestigious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prestigious. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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