What does "laureate" mean?
One crowned with laurel, such as a poet laureate or Nobel laureate.
Laureate
/ˈlɔɹ.i.ət/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One crowned with laurel, such as a poet laureate or Nobel laureate.
- Grammar: laureate is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: a per se, acclaimed, ace, arch-poet.
- Useful contrasts: nonlaureate, nonpoet, ordinary.
- Usage evidence: Professor Reinhard Selten, Nobel laureate in economics, said: Esperanto is good for the mind.
How to use "laureate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "laureate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "laureate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "laureate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "laureate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "laureate" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "a per se" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "laureate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 One crowned with laurel, such as a poet laureate or Nobel laureate. dated
"a learn'd laureate"
- 2 someone honored for great achievements; figuratively someone crowned with a laurel wreath wordnet
- 3 A graduate of a university.
Verb
- 1 To honor with a wreath of laurel, as formerly was done in bestowing a degree at English universities. intransitive
Adjective
- 1 Crowned, or decked, with laurel. not-comparable, postpositional, sometimes
"To strew the laureate hearse where Lycid lies."
Adjective
- 1 worthy of the greatest honor or distinction wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Professor Reinhard Selten, Nobel laureate in economics, said: Esperanto is good for the mind."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "laureate"?
Common synonyms include: a per se, acclaimed, ace, arch-poet, award winner, awardee.
How do you use "laureate" in a sentence?
Professor Reinhard Selten, Nobel laureate in economics, said: Esperanto is good for the mind.
How do you pronounce "laureate"?
Pronounced /ˈlɔɹ.i.ət/.
Etymology
First attested during the end of the 15th century, in Middle English; borrowed from Latin laureātus, from laurea (“laurel crown, wreath”, a high reward given to poets and later to the triumphant) + -ātus (forming adjectives indicating possession) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix)), from laureus (“of laurel”), from laurus (“laurel”). The verb was formed by metanalysis, see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Cognate with French lauréat.