trophy

1 of 2

noun

tro·​phy ˈtrō-fē How to pronounce trophy (audio)
plural trophies
1
: something gained or given in victory or conquest especially when preserved or mounted as a memorial
2
a
: a memorial of an ancient Greek or Roman victory raised on the field of battle or on the nearest land for a naval victory
b
: a representation of such a memorial (as on a medal)
also : an architectural ornament representing a group of military weapons
3
: a game animal or fish suitable for mounting as a trophy
usually used attributively
4
: one that is prized for qualities that enhance prestige or social status
usually used attributively
a trophy wife
a trophy house
trophy transitive verb

-trophy

2 of 2

noun combining form

: nutrition : nurture : growth
dystrophy

Examples of trophy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But the picture was always on display, next to some random plaques and honors and a few golf trophies. Detroit Free Press, 17 Mar. 2024 The sheep species, often trophy hunted for its size and long spiraling horns, is listed as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, according to court documents. Ashley R. Williams, CNN, 16 Mar. 2024 The Greek triumph came a few weeks after Porto, led by a charismatic young coach with hair more pepper than salt, lifted the Champions League trophy. Rory Smith, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Poor Things earned 11 Oscar nominations and four wins, including Stone’s second Academy Award trophy for best actress following 2016’s La La Land. Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Buying those opportunities are the only legitimate ways to guarantee a chance to hunt a trophy ram; public permits are so limited and the demand for them so high that the odds of pulling one in an annual agency draw are far less than 1 percent. Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2024 The Universal film — which nabbed seven Oscars total, including trophies for actor Cillian Murphy and supporting actor Robert Downey Jr. — was made on a budget of $100 million. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 12 Mar. 2024 Certainly more than a homework-doer or a trophy collector. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 But DuVernay used her moment in the spotlight to sing the praises of the pioneers who presented her with the trophies — Debbie Allen and Suzanne de Passe. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trophy.' 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

Middle French trophee, from Medieval Latin tropheum, from Latin tropaeum, trophaeum, from Greek tropaion, from neuter of tropaios of a turning, of a rout, from tropē turn, rout, from trepein to turn

Noun combining form

New Latin -trophia, from Greek, from -trophos nourishing, from trephein

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trophy was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near trophy

Cite this Entry

“Trophy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trophy. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

trophy

noun
tro·​phy ˈtrō-fē How to pronounce trophy (audio)
plural trophies
1
: something taken from the enemy in victory or conquest especially when kept and displayed as proof of one's bravery or victory
took the enemy's flags as trophies
2
: something given in recognition of a victory or as an award for achievement
a golf trophy
trophied
-fēd
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on trophy

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