trophy
- 01 B1 Intermediate
a prize, such as a gold cup or a statue, given to the winner of a race or game.
a decorative object, typically a cup or shield, awarded as a mark of victory in a sporting or competitive event.
Simple“The captain held the trophy high above his head after the final whistle.”
In context“The club's trophy cabinet was filled with silver cups and medals won over a century of local competition.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
something you keep to show that you were successful or defeated an enemy.
an object taken as a prize by a conqueror or hunter, often displayed as a sign of prowess or victory.
Simple“The hunter kept the deer's antlers as a trophy on his wall.”
In context“The victorious army returned with captured banners and weapons to serve as trophies of their successful campaign.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
a person or thing that someone has just to show off their wealth or success.
an emblem of success or a status symbol, often used to describe a person or object acquired to enhance one's social standing.
Simple“He bought the expensive sports car as a trophy to show off his new wealth.”
In context“The term 'trophy wife' is often used pejoratively to describe a spouse who is viewed primarily as a status symbol for their partner.”
Synonymsstatus symbolshowpiece - 04 C2 Proficiency
a decoration in art or buildings that looks like a group of weapons or flags.
a representation of a group of weapons, flags, or other military items used as a decorative motif in art or architecture.
Simple“The stone walls of the old palace were decorated with trophies of shields and spears.”
In context“The neoclassical facade featured elaborate stone trophies depicting naval instruments and anchors to celebrate the country's maritime history.”
“And when the trophy is there, the final is there, you always try to win the game,” Maresca said.”
“And yet something about his aloof and quietly eccentric host, who dusted the hunting trophies while a handsome young man padded around her patio in the altogether, intrigued the artist.”
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.