What does "prestige" mean?
The quality of how good the reputation of something or someone is, how favourably something or someone is regarded.
Prestige
/pɹɛsˈtiːd͡ʒ/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The quality of how good the reputation of something or someone is, how favourably something or someone is regarded.
- Grammar: prestige is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: accomplishment, admiration, adoration, apotheosis.
- Useful contrasts: banality, dishonour, disrepute.
- Usage evidence: The problem affects the prestige of our school.
How to use "prestige"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "prestige" 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 "prestige" 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 "prestige" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "prestige" 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 "prestige" 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 "accomplishment" 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.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "prestige", 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 The quality of how good the reputation of something or someone is, how favourably something or someone is regarded. uncountable, usually
"Oxford has a university of very high prestige."
- 2 a high standing achieved through success or influence or wealth etc. wordnet
- 3 Delusion; illusion; trick. obsolete, uncountable, usually
"That faith which, we are told, was founded on a rock, impregnable to the assaults of men and demons; to the sophisms of infidelity, and the prestiges of imposture!"
- 4 The act of starting over at an earlier point in a video game with some type of bonus or reward. uncountable, usually
"Rather than relying on the genre-standard “prestige,” the act of resetting your progress to earn a larger modifier on your next attempt, SPACEPLAN resets its progress by sending you to a new planet so that it can both reset your progress and advance the narrative. […] Prestige can sometimes feel like a defeat; “I guess I’ve made it as far as I can, I’ll have to start over.”"
- 5 A level, rank, or tier corresponding to prestige. countable, usually
"This guide will explain how MW3's prestige system works, how to increase your prestige, and provide some tips on how to maximize your XP gains to speed up the prestige leveling process. […] Excluding the first rank, each prestige is made up of 50 levels, as shown below: […]"
Verb
- 1 To start over at an earlier point in a video game with some type of bonus or reward. intransitive
"This seriously depends on the prerequisites, but most chars will already have a +1 bow by the time they're thinking of prestiging - or will this stack with the equipment's magic?"
- 2 To start (something) over at an earlier point in a video game with some type of bonus or reward. transitive
"When you complete all seven of the challenges inside a specific mission, you'll have the opportunity to prestige the mission. Simply navigate to the specific mission you want to prestige and you'll be given the option when every challenge is complete."
Adjective
- 1 Regarded as relatively prestigious; often, considered the standard language or language variety, or a part of such a variety. not-comparable
"Furthermore there is in each area a well recognized standard, known by a single name, which although often linguistically distinct from local dialects, has served as the prestige form for some time."
Example
"The problem affects the prestige of our school."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "prestige"?
Common synonyms include: accomplishment, admiration, adoration, apotheosis, appreciation, approbation.
How do you use "prestige" in a sentence?
The problem affects the prestige of our school.
How do you pronounce "prestige"?
Pronounced /pɹɛsˈtiːd͡ʒ/.
Etymology
From French prestige (“illusion, fascination, enchantment, prestige”), from Latin praestīgium (“a delusion, an illusion”). Despite the phonetic similarities and the old meaning of “delusion, illusion, trick”, the word has a different root than prestidigitator (“conjurer”) and prestidigitation.