ENGLISH
REFERENCE

eminent

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɛmənənt// UK //ˈɛmɪnənt// em·i·nent Archaic

adj. very famous and respected in a particular job or field. You use this for people who are leaders or experts.

adj. highly distinguished and respected, typically within a specific professional or intellectual field. Formal in register; often used attributively before titles or roles.


SIMPLE

She is an eminent scientist in her field.

CONTEXTUAL

The eminent professor gave a lecture on climate change at the university.

COMPLEX

His status as an eminent jurist ensured that his legal opinions carried significant weight in the final ruling.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle French éminent, from Latin present participle ēminēns, ēminentis, from verb ēmineō (“to project, protrude”), from ex- (“out of, from”) + mineō, related to mons (English mount). Compare with imminent. Unrelated to emanate, which is instead from mānō (“to flow”).

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun (e.g. 'an eminent scholar').

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