Pristine: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Pristine adjective. In its original state, untouched and unspoilt.
How to say it
PRIS-teen/ˈprɪstiːn/
2 syllables, stressed on the first (PRIS).
Meanings
- In its original state, untouched and unspoilt.
- Spotlessly clean, as if new.
Pristine in a sentence
Divers found the reef pristine, untouched by trawlers or tourists.
The 1968 Beetle had been kept in pristine condition by one careful owner.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- unspoilt
- untouched
- immaculate
- original
Opposite:
- spoilt
- polluted
- shabby
Careful
Pristine first meant original or ancient, then unspoilt. Its use for simply very clean ('pristine white shirts') was once frowned on but is now standard; just know the older sense of untouched.
Where pristine comes from
From Latin pristinus, former or original.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The 1968 Beetle had been kept in _____ condition by one careful owner.
- pristine
- nonplussed
- celibate
Show the answer
pristine: The 1968 Beetle had been kept in pristine condition by one careful owner.