: of outstanding quality
especially
: consisting of individuals selected for quality, reputation, or authority
a blue-ribbon panel
1
: an honor or award gained for preeminence
2
: a blue ribbon awarded as an honor (as to the first-place winner in a competition)
Synonyms
Adjective
- A-OK
- A1
- awesome
- bang-up
- banner
- beautiful
- blue-chip
- boffo
- bonny [chiefly British]
- bonnie
- boss [slang]
- brag
- brave
- bully
- bumper
- capital
- choice
- classic
- cool [slang]
- corking
- crackerjack
- cracking
- dandy
- divine
- dope [slang]
- down [slang]
- dynamite
- excellent
- fab
- fabulous
- famous
- fantabulous [slang]
- fantastic
- fine
- first-class
- first-rate
- first-string
- five-star
- four-star
- frontline
- gangbusters
- gangbuster
- gilt-edged
- gilt-edge
- gone [slang]
- grand
- great
- groovy
- heavenly
- high-class
- hot
- hype [slang]
- immense
- jim-dandy
- keen
- lovely
- marvelous
- marvellous
- mean
- neat
- nifty
- noble
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- out-of-sight [slang]
- par excellence
- peachy
- peachy keen
- phat [slang]
- prime
- primo [slang]
- prize
- prizewinning
- quality
- radical [slang]
- righteous [slang]
- sensational
- slick
- splendid
- stellar
- sterling
- superb
- superior
- superlative
- supernal
- swell
- terrific
- tip-top
- top
- top-notch
- top-of-the-line
- top-shelf
- topflight
- topping [chiefly British]
- unsurpassed
- wizard [chiefly British]
- wonderful
Noun
Examples of blue-ribbon in a Sentence
Adjective
your work on this project has been of blue-ribbon quality
Noun
Our pumpkin won the blue ribbon at the county fair this year.
the Pritzker Prize is widely regarded as the ultimate blue ribbon for architectural achievement
Recent Examples on the Web
Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2023
In July 1972, just months after the famed tour by U.S. president Richard Nixon, a veritable blue-ribbon committee of prominent American computer scientists visited the PRC.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 May 2024
Jason Derose, NPR, 21 Apr. 2024
The doll was inspired by one of her most iconic looks: an elegant ivory gown and blue ribbon adorned with decorations of order.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blue-ribbon 
Adjective
For decades, blue-ribbon panels and incoming presidents have observed with surprising unanimity that overclassification has grown out of control—and vowed to fix it.
—Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2023
In July 1972, just months after the famed tour by U.S. president Richard Nixon, a veritable blue-ribbon committee of prominent American computer scientists visited the PRC.
—IEEE Spectrum, 28 May 2024
Noun
At Sinai Temple in west Los Angeles, Rabbi Erez Sherman unlocks the sanctuary doors and walks toward row after row of seats marked off with blue ribbon.
—Jason Derose, NPR, 21 Apr. 2024
The doll was inspired by one of her most iconic looks: an elegant ivory gown and blue ribbon adorned with decorations of order.
—Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for blue-ribbon
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blue-ribbon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near blue-ribbon
Cite this Entry
“Blue-ribbon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blue-ribbon. Accessed 30 Jun. 2024.
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