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

For seven of its eight episodes, The Penguin paid homage to the antihero era of prestige TV. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024

Eastwood, of course, has brought Warner Bros. plenty of awards season prestige over the past three decades, winning Best Picture (as a producer) and Best Director Oscars for 1993’s Unforgiven and 2005’s Million Dollar Baby. —Tim Lammers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

The prestige brand is opening its first U.S. retail door in New York’s SoHo on Wednesday. —James Manso, WWD, 30 Oct. 2024

Ukrainian forces penetrated Russian defenses in August and seized a swath of Russian territory in the Kursk region — a gambit seen by many as a blow to Putin’s prestige. —Matthew Bodner, NBC News, 30 Oct. 2024

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