pristine
adjective
pris·tine ˈpri-ˌstēn 
pri-ˈstēn,
especially British ˈpri-ˌstīn
1
: belonging to the earliest period or state : original
the hypothetical pristine lunar atmosphere
2
a
: not spoiled, corrupted, or polluted (as by civilization) : pure
a pristine forest
b
: fresh and clean as or as if new
used books in pristine condition
pristinely adverb
Did you know?
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."
Synonyms
- brand-new
- fresh
- mint
- span-new
- virgin
- virginal
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
My office is a mess but her office is always pristine. He was wearing a pristine white shirt.
Recent Examples on the Web Travelers will immediately be blown away by its pristine waters and stone walls left behind from old fishermen's cottages. 
Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 28 Aug. 2022 But it’s not only pristine waters and sandy beaches. Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 31 May 2022 Newly designated among the nation's Dark Sky Parks, Northern Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park is a place of exceptional natural beauty—pristine waters, towering pines, and a world-class house boating experience are yours to enjoy here. Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2022 Much of the river is surrounded by Brule River State Forest and has a pristine appearance. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2022 On a muggy Florida afternoon, a summer storm pelts the pristine white Rolls-Royce SUV that pulls up to an empty street corner just outside downtown Miami. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2022 The Yoga Hosers auteur managed to pull together a pristine version of his signature look that stuck to the color scheme: a backward baseball cap, blazer, vest, T-shirt and shorts, all in white. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 Lorde co-directed the video with Jeol Kefali, pairing the song’s billowing, subtle grooves with some pristine seaside scenes. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2022 As recently as this spring and summer, dozens of the once pristine white turbines at the site were caked in oil and lubricants leaking from gearboxes and other controls housed in a box behind the rotor, suspended 265 feet in the air. oregonlive, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 28 Aug. 2022 But it’s not only pristine waters and sandy beaches. Katie Lockhart, Robb Report, 31 May 2022 Newly designated among the nation's Dark Sky Parks, Northern Minnesota's Voyageurs National Park is a place of exceptional natural beauty—pristine waters, towering pines, and a world-class house boating experience are yours to enjoy here. Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2022 Much of the river is surrounded by Brule River State Forest and has a pristine appearance. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2022 On a muggy Florida afternoon, a summer storm pelts the pristine white Rolls-Royce SUV that pulls up to an empty street corner just outside downtown Miami. Leila Cobo, Billboard, 25 Aug. 2022 The Yoga Hosers auteur managed to pull together a pristine version of his signature look that stuck to the color scheme: a backward baseball cap, blazer, vest, T-shirt and shorts, all in white. Jen Juneau, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 Lorde co-directed the video with Jeol Kefali, pairing the song’s billowing, subtle grooves with some pristine seaside scenes. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2022 As recently as this spring and summer, dozens of the once pristine white turbines at the site were caked in oil and lubricants leaking from gearboxes and other controls housed in a box behind the rotor, suspended 265 feet in the air. oregonlive, 17 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin pristinus; akin to Latin prior
First Known Use
1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing pristine
pristine
adjective
1
as in mint
being in an original and unused or unspoiled state a pristine forest that has never been subjected to logging or development Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- mint
- untouched
- fresh
- virginal
- virgin
- unblemished
- unmarred
- unsoiled
- unspoiled
- unaltered
- untainted
- unpolluted
- uncontaminated
- unsullied
- brand-new
- new
- undamaged
- unbruised
- unharmed
- unimpaired
- span-new
- unworn
- uninjured
- undefiled
- spic-and-span
- unhurt
- spick-and-span
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- soiled
- stale
- blemished
- damaged
- sullied
- broken
- tainted
- bruised
- polluted
- contaminated
- injured
- defiled
- worn
- impaired
- marred
- faded
- disfigured
- hurt
- used
- shopworn
- harmed
- spoiled
- secondhand
- well-worn
- defaced
- hand-me-down
2
as in immaculate
free from dirt or stain one doesn't dare spill anything on his car's pristine upholstery Synonyms & Similar Words
- immaculate
- clean
- spotless
- unsoiled
- unsullied
- pure
- stainless
- unstained
- chaste
- shiny
- milky
- squeaky-clean
- sparkling
- spic-and-span
- antiseptic
- snowy
- sterile
- spick-and-span
- untainted
- unpolluted
- flawless
- sanitary
- unblemished
- white
- bright
- wholesome
- fair
- bleached
- hygienic
- cleanly
- germfree
- washed
- undefiled
- scrubbed
- purified
- cleansed
- whitened
- taintless
- abluted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- filthy
- soiled
- dirty
- stained
- grubby
- muddy
- unclean
- grimy
- dingy
- foul
- polluted
- sullied
- mucky
- unwashed
- spotted
- greasy
- uncleaned
- blackened
- besmirched
- tainted
- unsterilized
- smirched
- discolored
- unsterile
- defiled
- germy