Definition of prominent

The word "prominent" originally comes from the Latin word "prominere," which means "protrude" or "stick out." In Old French, this word evolved into "prominent" and it initially referred to physical features that stood out or protruded from something else. Over time, the meaning of "prominent" began to change. In the 16th century, it started to be used to describe individuals who held a position of importance or influence, as these people stood out in a community or society. This use of "prominent" continues to this day, with the Oxford English Dictionary defining it as "conspicuous or noticeable, especially in an advantageous or favorable sense." The meaning of "prominent" has also expanded to include things that are noticeable or significant in other contexts, such as a prominent feature of a landscape or a prominent theme in a work of literature. In all of these uses, "prominent" continues to signify something that is notable or conspicuous, reflecting its origins in the Latin word "prominere."