pristine
adjective
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When pristine was anglicized in the 16th century, people borrowed the meanings of "early" and "original" from the Latin word pristinus and applied those meanings to what is desirable as well as to what is not. But it has long been a tendency of civilized people to admire a simpler and unsullied past. The supposition is that when things were in their oldest or original state, they were better. Thus, pristine was extended to describe the notion of an unspoiled, uncorrupted, or unpolluted state. And what is unspoiled or uncontaminated may connote the freshness and cleanness of something that has just been made, which explains how pristine has also come to mean "fresh and clean."
Examples of pristine in a Sentence
Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 14 July 2025
Lucas takes great pride in his work, particularly in maintaining the cafeteria floors to a pristine
He has additionally been nominated to be recognized as Recognizing Inspiring Schools Award (RISE) recipients.
—Magda Liszewska, Oc Register, 13 July 2025
The experience gets even better with a group of friends, and reaches its pinnacle in the Florida Keys, where personal watercraft, thanks to their swiftness, agility, and minimal draft, are ideal vessels to explore the pristine, and often shallow waters.
—Jeremy Korzeniewski, Robb Report, 12 July 2025
But this match was certainly a testament to the transition state France remain in, the sense of potential but pockets of concern that lurk beneath a pristine surface.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 10 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Pristine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pristine. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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pristine
adjective
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