Is 'prominent' formal or informal?

What's the difference between 'prominent' and 'famous'?

What’s the difference between 'prominent' and 'famous'?

Can 'prominent' describe a problem?

Is 'prominent' common in academic writing?

← Dictionary

prominent

/ˈprɒm.ɪ.nənt/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Very important, well known, or easy to notice or see. We use it for people, jobs, facts, or parts that stand out clearly.

She holds a prominent role in the research team.
His ideas were a prominent feature of the meeting.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: 'prominent' stresses clear importance and visibility in a context, while 'notable' is milder and 'outstanding' implies exceptional merit. Choose 'prominent' when the standing or visibility itself matters more than personal judgment.

In other languages

Spanish: Destacado, importante
Japanese: 目立った
Korean: 뚜렷한
Vietnamese: Nổi bật
Chinese: 突出的

Etymology

From Latin 'prominens', present participle of 'prominere' meaning 'to project'—the sense of standing out has remained stable.

Common phrases

prominent figureprominent rolein a prominent positionprominent feature

Synonyms

important notable outstanding significant well-known

Frequently asked questions

Is 'prominent' formal or informal?: Is 'prominent' formal or informal?
What's the difference between 'prominent' and 'famous'?: What’s the difference between 'prominent' and 'famous'?
Can 'prominent' describe a problem?: Can 'prominent' describe a problem?
Is 'prominent' common in academic writing?: Is 'prominent' common in academic writing?