blue-ribbon
1 of 2adjective
: of outstanding quality
especially : consisting of individuals selected for quality, reputation, or authority
a blue-ribbon panel
blue ribbon
2 of 2noun
1
: an honor or award gained for preeminence
2
: a blue ribbon awarded as an honor (as to the first-place winner in a competition)
Synonyms
Adjective
- A-OK
- A1
- awesome
- bang-up
- banner
- beautiful
- blue-chip
- boffo
- bonny [chiefly British]
- bonnie
- boss [slang]
- brag
- brave
- bully
- bumper
- capital
- choice
- classic
- cool [slang]
- corking
- crackerjack
- cracking
- dandy
- divine
- dope [slang]
- down [slang]
- dynamite
- excellent
- fab
- fabulous
- famous
- fantabulous [slang]
- fantastic
- fine
- first-class
- first-rate
- first-string
- five-star
- four-star
- frontline
- gangbusters
- gangbuster
- gilt-edged
- gilt-edge
- gone [slang]
- grand
- great
- groovy
- heavenly
- high-class
- hot
- hype [slang]
- immense
- jim-dandy
- keen
- lovely
- marvelous
- marvellous
- mean
- neat
- nifty
- noble
- number one
- No. 1
- numero uno
- out-of-sight [slang]
- par excellence
- peachy
- peachy keen
- phat [slang]
- prime
- primo [slang]
- prize
- prizewinning
- quality
- radical [slang]
- righteous [slang]
- sensational
- slick
- splendid
- stellar
- sterling
- superb
- superior
- superlative
- supernal
- swell
- terrific
- tip-top
- top
- top-notch
- top-of-the-line
- top-shelf
- topflight
- topping [chiefly British]
- unsurpassed
- wizard [chiefly British]
- wonderful
Noun
- accolade
- award
- decoration
- distinction
- honor
- kudo
- plume
- premium
- prize
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun Our pumpkin won the blue ribbon at the county fair this year. the Pritzker Prize is widely regarded as the ultimate blue ribbon for architectural achievement
Recent Examples on the Web
Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 After that came his first meeting with a president — a ceremony at the White House in October 1953, with Dwight Eisenhower placing a pale blue ribbon with a five-point bronze star around Simanek's neck. Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 7 Aug. 2022 Bidding was fast and furious Wednesday night inside the IH Case Coliseum during the Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock auction at the Wisconsin State Fair, raising $321,950 for blue ribbon steers, hogs and sheep exhibited by junior showmen. Lydia Morrell, Journal Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2022 The honey even won a blue ribbon in the light amber honey category at last year's Kentucky State Fair. Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2022 The blurry, pixelated video shows Biden placing the blue ribbon of the Army's Medal of Honor around the neck of Spc. Bayliss Wagner, USA TODAY, 15 July 2022 The Rockefeller and Bill and Melinda Gates foundations are convening a blue ribbon task force of 11 experts that will make recommendations about the next generation of vaccines to the U.S. government. Stephanie Armour, WSJ, 17 June 2022 This Special Merit Award will be determined by a blue ribbon committee and ratified by the Recording Academy Board of Trustees. Jem Aswad, Variety, 9 June 2022 Leda Levine, president of New Agenda: Northeast, and Pam Gould, superintendent of Sandwich Public Schools and a member of the MIAA’s blue ribbon committee, also spoke. Sarah Barber, BostonGlobe.com, 20 May 2022 See More
Noun
Andrew Yohanan was awarded a blue ribbon for a two-layer frosted carrot cake. Linda Girardi, Chicago Tribune, 9 Sep. 2022 After that came his first meeting with a president — a ceremony at the White House in October 1953, with Dwight Eisenhower placing a pale blue ribbon with a five-point bronze star around Simanek's neck. Neal Rubin, Detroit Free Press, 7 Aug. 2022 Bidding was fast and furious Wednesday night inside the IH Case Coliseum during the Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock auction at the Wisconsin State Fair, raising $321,950 for blue ribbon steers, hogs and sheep exhibited by junior showmen. Lydia Morrell, Journal Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2022 The honey even won a blue ribbon in the light amber honey category at last year's Kentucky State Fair. Dahlia Ghabour, The Courier-Journal, 5 July 2022 The blurry, pixelated video shows Biden placing the blue ribbon of the Army's Medal of Honor around the neck of Spc. Bayliss Wagner, USA TODAY, 15 July 2022 The Rockefeller and Bill and Melinda Gates foundations are convening a blue ribbon task force of 11 experts that will make recommendations about the next generation of vaccines to the U.S. government. Stephanie Armour, WSJ, 17 June 2022 This Special Merit Award will be determined by a blue ribbon committee and ratified by the Recording Academy Board of Trustees. Jem Aswad, Variety, 9 June 2022 Leda Levine, president of New Agenda: Northeast, and Pam Gould, superintendent of Sandwich Public Schools and a member of the MIAA’s blue ribbon committee, also spoke. Sarah Barber, BostonGlobe.com, 20 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1860, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
blue ribbon
noun
: a decorative ribbon colored blue that is given to the winner in a competition
Legal Definition
blue-ribbon
adjective
blue-rib·bon
: consisting of individuals selected for quality, reputation, or authority
a blue-ribbon committee
blue-ribbon 1 of 2
adjective
as in excellent
of the very best kind your work on this project has been of blue-ribbon quality Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- excellent
- terrific
- wonderful
- stellar
- superb
- great
- lovely
- fabulous
- beautiful
- prime
- awesome
- fantastic
- marvelous
- fine
- hot
- quality
- prizewinning
- heavenly
- classic
- famous
- top
- crackerjack
- sensational
- superlative
- grand
- prize
- divine
- marvellous
- neat
- corking
- sterling
- superior
- primo
- slick
- splendid
- cool
- capital
- brave
- peachy
- topflight
- topping
- exceptional
- cracking
- dynamite
- bumper
- choice
- swell
- dandy
- first-rate
- banner
- boffo
- supernal
- noble
- first-class
- first-string
- unsurpassed
- groovy
- gangbusters
- nifty
- bang-up
- righteous
- good
- bonny
- top-shelf
- immense
- gangbuster
- blue-chip
- brag
- high-class
- too much
- par excellence
- fab
- number one
- fantabulous
- frontline
- five-star
- radical
- dope
- bully
- top-notch
- boss
- keen
- wizard
- gilt-edge
- top-of-the-line
- four-star
- phat
- mean
- numero uno
- gilt-edged
- special
- tip-top
- decent
- bonnie
- gone
- down
- hype
- out-of-sight
- jim-dandy
- better
- peachy keen
- adequate
- out of this world
- premium
- satisfactory
- traditional
- A-OK
- acceptable
- classical
- superfine
- A1
- select
- all right
- fancy
- standard
- No. 1
- passable
- tolerable
- high-grade
- high-test
- okay
- OK
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- poor
- rotten
- lousy
- execrable
- terrible
- wretched
- vile
- awful
- pathetic
- substandard
- inferior
- atrocious
- bad
- unsatisfactory
- middling
- mediocre
- low-grade
- second-rate
- second-class
blue ribbon
2 of 2noun
as in prize
something given in recognition of achievement the Pritzker Prize is widely regarded as the ultimate blue ribbon for architectural achievement Synonyms & Similar Words
- prize
- award
- premium
- honor
- decoration
- ribbon
- plume
- accolade
- trophy
- medal
- cup
- badge
- plate
- distinction
- kudo
- laurel
- crown
- applause
- plaque
- hallelujah
- panegyric
- eulogy
- bravo
- compliment
- tribute
- homage
- paean
- honorable mention
- encomium
- citation
- order
- commendation
- plaudit