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
Samuel Burke, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2024
Ras Al Khaimah is known for its pristine beaches, resort vibe and terracotta desert vistas.
—Sofia Celeste, WWD, 28 Oct. 2024
Additionally, ranch and waterfront properties reigned supreme across the country, from a stately stone mansion that presides over 350 wooded acres on the pristine shore of Vermont’s Lake Champlain to a 3,500-acre ranch on Maui in Hawaii.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2024
Its 66 miles of pristine coastline shelter the rare Kemp's ridley sea turtle and more than 380 bird species, while offering its human visitors ample opportunities for walking, swimming, and birdwatching.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pristine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Pristine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pristine. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
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pristine
adjective
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