prestige

prestige — noun

1. the widespread respect and favourable opinion that a person, organisation, or th

1.nounC1
Definition

the widespread respect and favourable opinion that a person, organisation, or thing receives because of outstanding achievements, superior quality, or a powerful social position

Example

Maeve University has kept its academic prestige for over a century through world-famous research.

academic prestige; keep + prestige

Winning a national award brought enormous prestige to Linh's small research team.

bring + prestige + to

Common collocations
  • academic prestige
  • international prestige
  • social prestige
  • enjoy prestige
  • carry prestige
  • bring prestige to
  • gain prestige
  • lose prestige
  • matter of prestige
  • symbol of prestige
Synonyms
  • reputation

    broader term; can be positive or negative, while prestige is always positive

  • renown

    more formal and literary; emphasises being widely known rather than respected

  • standing

    focuses on relative position or rank rather than admiration

  • cachet

    suggests an exclusive, stylish quality; slightly less formal

Antonyms
  • notoriety

    fame for something bad, the opposite of admired reputation

Grammar Patterns

prestige + of + gerund

enjoy / have / carry + prestige

Usage Note

Prestige is an uncountable noun — it has no plural form and cannot be used with 'a' or 'an'. Frequently paired with verbs like 'enjoy', 'carry', 'bring', 'gain', or 'lose'.

Common Mistakes

That university has a great prestige.
That university has great prestige.
Prestige is uncountable; never use 'a' before it.
This company prestiges its products.
This company makes prestige products.
Prestige is a noun (or attributive noun), not a verb.
She has many prestiges from her career.
She has gained much prestige from her career.
Prestige has no plural form.

prestige — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All five words relate to how others see a person or thing, but they differ in emphasis. 'Reputation' is the broadest term — it can be good or bad, and it is built over time through actions. 'Prestige' is always positive and comes specifically from high quality, success, or social position. 'Renown' is more literary and centres on being widely celebrated rather than simply respected. 'Standing' focuses on rank or relative position within a group. 'Status' refers to one's legal or social position, often tied to wealth or title rather than admiration. 'Cachet' adds a sense of stylish exclusivity that prestige does not necessarily carry. For example, a local clinic may have an excellent reputation without any prestige, while a top university has both prestige and renown. A diplomat has high status and standing but may lack the cachet of a celebrity.

reputation ↗renownstanding ↗status ↗cachet

Common collocations

Nouns

  • prestige (as modifier)
  • symbol
  • mark

Adverbs

  • highly (prestigious)
  • immensely

Phrases

  • a matter of prestige
  • a symbol of prestige
  • a loss of prestige

Prepositions

  • of prestige (a matter of prestige)
  • with prestige (a position with prestige)

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'prestige' entered English in the 19th century from French, where it originally meant 'illusion' or 'trick' — from Latin 'praestigiae' (juggler's tricks, deception). Over time the meaning shifted from 'dazzling illusion' to 'glamour and influence' and finally to the modern sense of 'respected reputation based on achievement or quality.' The change reflects how earlier ideas of showmanship and dazzle evolved into a more stable concept of earned respect.