eminence

noun

em·​i·​nence ˈe-mə-nən(t)s How to pronounce eminence (audio)
1
: a position of prominence or superiority
2
: one that is eminent, prominent, or lofty: such as
a
: a person of high rank or attainments
often used as a title for a cardinal
b
: a natural elevation
c
: an anatomical protuberance (as on a bone)

Examples of eminence in a Sentence

the eminence of the Nobel Prize in the field of awards and prizes the old citadel sits on an eminence with a commanding view of the city
Recent Examples on the Web But between the wars Pétain was a discreet eminence. Robert O. Paxton, Harper's Magazine, 17 Dec. 2023 Since then, Conservative Party eminences have lined up to denounce his bid — often in essays published by newspapers controlled by Mr. Zucker’s rivals — and Tory members of Parliament urged regulators to consider the constraints on press freedoms in the Middle East. Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times, 30 Nov. 2023 And long before McCarthy’s pale eminence seized the gavel, an older version of his antagonists was doing then-Speaker John Boehner dirty. Jason Linkins, The New Republic, 4 Nov. 2023 Scorsese has leveraged his eminence to take a leading role in advocating for studios to both invest in the preservation and distribution of classic movies and release new and substantial movies by ambitious directors. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2023 Stokowski and Iturbi portray, in their different ways, imperious eminences who show kindness toward the struggling performers in their midst. Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2023 Love’s clear explanations of screening, diagnosis and treatment allowed women to replace their dependence on medical eminence with actual medical evidence. Peggy Orenstein, New York Times, 22 Dec. 2023 At 93, the Finnish classical music eminence Jorma Panula has generations of students spread around the globe, with more on the way. Richard Fisher, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2023 Washington gets to lend his prestige-movie eminence to the same frivolity that is the specialty of Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Chris Pratt, Jason Statham — but minus Keanu Reeves’s half-satiric John Wick decadence. Armond White, National Review, 1 Sep. 2023

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

Middle English, "exalted position, protuberance," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin eminentia "state of standing out or projecting, protuberance," noun derivative of ēminent-, ēminens "standing out above a surface, projecting, outstanding in merit or importance" — more at eminent

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near eminence

Cite this Entry

“Eminence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eminence. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

eminence

noun
em·​i·​nence ˈem-ə-nən(t)s How to pronounce eminence (audio)
1
: the condition of being eminent
2
a
: a person of high rank or achievements
often used as a title for a cardinal
b
: an area of high ground : height

Medical Definition

eminence

noun
em·​i·​nence ˈem-ə-nən(t)s How to pronounce eminence (audio)
: a protuberance or projection on a bodily part and especially a bone

More from Merriam-Webster on eminence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!