laureate

1 of 3

noun

lau·​re·​ate ˈlȯr-ē-ət How to pronounce laureate (audio)
ˈlär-
: the recipient of honor or recognition for achievement in an art or science
a Nobel laureate
specifically : poet laureate
laureateship noun

laureate

2 of 3

verb

lau·​re·​ate ˈlȯr-ē-ˌāt How to pronounce laureate (audio)
ˈlär-
laureated; laureating

transitive verb

1
: to crown with or as if with a laurel wreath for excellence or achievement
2
: to appoint to the office of poet laureate
laureation noun

laureate

3 of 3

adjective

lau·​re·​ate ˈlȯr-ē-ət How to pronounce laureate (audio)
ˈlär-
1
: honored for outstanding achievement in an art or science
This was a term coined in the 1950s by Nobel laureate chemist Irving Langmuir …Gary Taubes
see also poet laureate
2
: crowned with laurel
Minted in France in 1807, the front of the medal shows the laureate head of Emperor Napoleon and, on the reverse, an eagle clutching a thunderbolt, part of the emperor's imperial seal.Brice Stump

Examples of laureate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
However, Nobel laureate Milton Friedman argued that money supply times velocity equals real GDP times inflation. Bob Haber, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2024 Bread and Roses, from Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani, also counts Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai among its executive producers. Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 24 Sep. 2024
Verb
For example, Harvard’s faculty includes Nobel laureates, alumni like Sheryl Sandberg, and strong ties with firms like McKinsey. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 Unlike many non-American Nobel laureates, who might be fairly unknown in the U.S. before winning the prize, Han, thanks to that novel’s success, already had a sizable and passionate stateside readership before Thursday’s announcement from Stockholm. Ed Park, The Atlantic, 12 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for laureate 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'laureate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, crowned with laurel as a distinction, from Latin laureatus, from laurea laurel wreath, from feminine of laureus of laurel, from laurus

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1529, in the meaning defined above

Verb

circa 1610, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of laureate was in 1508

Dictionary Entries Near laureate

Cite this Entry

“Laureate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/laureate. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

laureate

noun
lau·​re·​ate
ˈlȯr-ē-ət,
ˈlär-
: a person honored for achievement in an art or science
especially : poet laureate
laureate adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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