Definition

1. Noun:

   • Someone honored for great achievements: A person who has been recognized with a significant award or honor, especially for intellectual or artistic accomplishments.
   • Figuratively, someone crowned with a laurel wreath: Historically, a person honored with a wreath of laurel leaves as a symbol of victory or high achievement, especially in poetry or academics.

2. Adjective:

   • Worthy of the greatest honor or distinction: Deserving of the highest praise or award, often used in titles to denote preeminence in a field.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The Nobel laureate gave a lecture on quantum physics.
  • She was named the poet laureate of her state.

• Adjective:

  • The nation's pediatrician laureate is preparing to lay down his black bag.
  • He received a laureate title for his lifetime of humanitarian work.

Advanced Usage

• "Poet laureate": An official poet appointed by a government or institution, often expected to compose poems for special events.

  • The poet laureate wrote a poem for the presidential inauguration.

• "Nobel laureate": A person who has been awarded a Nobel Prize.

  • Several Nobel laureates attended the conference on climate change.

Variants and Related Words

• Laureateship (n): The position or term of office of a laureate.
  • Her laureateship lasted for ten productive years.

Synonyms

• Award winner: A person who has received a prize.
• Honoree: A person who receives an honor.
• Champion: A person who has defeated all rivals; can be used figuratively for a top achiever.

Related Phrases

• To be laurelled/laureled (verb, less common): To be crowned with laurel or honored.
  • The ancient heroes were laurelled for their victories.

Adjective

1. worthy of the greatest honor or distinction
   • The nation's pediatrician laureate is preparing to lay down his black bag- James Traub

Noun

1. someone honored for great achievements; figuratively someone crowned with a laurel wreath