Trophy Meaning
/ˈtɹəʊfi/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounAn object, usually in the form of a statuette, cup, or shield, awarded for success in a competition or to mark a special achievement.
nounAn object taken as a prize by a hunter, or a conqueror or belligerent, especially one that is displayed.
Sentence Examples
The manager bestowed a trophy on him.
To our surprise, Betty won the trophy.
Wealthy older men often marry younger trophy wives.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The winning team received a shiny gold ____ for their victory in the tournament.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The young athlete was extremely proud to receive a silver ____ for finishing in first place in the local race today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French trophée, from Latin trophaeum (“a sign of victory, a monument”), tropaeum, from Ancient Greek τρόπαιον (trópaion, “monument of an enemy's defeat”), from neuter of τροπαῖος (tropaîos, “of defeat”), from τροπή (tropḗ, “a rout, a turning of an enemy”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Around the posts hung helmets, darts, and spears, / And captive chariots, axes, shields, and bars, / And broken beaks of ships, the trophies of their wars."
— 1697, Virgil, “The Seventh Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
"Similarly, the Soviet defence industry tested their guns by firing against German trophy tanks or fired against new Soviet vehicles with German guns or German ammunition."
— 2011 July 26, L. Samuelson, Tankograd: The Formation of a Soviet Company Town: Cheliabinsk, 1900s-1950s, Springer, →ISBN, page 200:
"“The stakes are getting so high,” Mr. MacDonald-Korth said in a telephone interview, referring to the skyrocketing amounts being paid for trophy works of art."
— 2018 June 8, Scott Reyburn, “Art Is Becoming a Financial Product, and Blockchain Is Making It Happen”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:
"The souvenirs which many killers retain of their victims are often described as trophies, and Norman Bates's taxidermic interests derived from the real-life Ed Gein."
— 1994, Philip Jenkins, Using Murder: The Social Construction of Serial Homicide, →ISBN, page 117:
"A trophy from this murder would have been of great importance."
— 2001, R. Michael Gordon, Alias Jack the Ripper: Beyond the Usual Whitechapel Suspects, →ISBN, page 82:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The winning team received a shiny gold ____ for their victory in the tournament.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The young athlete was extremely proud to receive a silver ____ for finishing in first place in the local race today.