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 of pristine

• mint
• fresh
• virginal
• untouched
• virgin

Examples of pristine in a Sentence

My office is a mess but her office is always pristine.

He was wearing a pristine white shirt.

Recent Examples on the Web

Roughly 550 miles east of Madagascar, Mauritius has drawn attention from travelers over the years for its remote, pristine beaches. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

Von Teese first appeared onstage as a character reminiscent of Snow White — replete with perfect black coif, red lips, pristine look and forbidden fruit in hand — but the narrative took a different direction. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2026

Our beloved city deserves buildings with strong foundations, beaches that are pristine, and transparency in the handling of our money by condo directors and city commissioners. — Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Their sound profile, while not as neutral and pristine as their sibling’s, is still excellent, delivering crisp and lively audio that matches up with almost any other entry on this list. — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin pristinus; akin to Latin prior

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pristine

• pristine condition

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Kids Definition

pristine

adjective

pris·​tine ˈpris-ˌtēn 

1

: not spoiled, polluted, or corrupted (as by civilization)

a pristine forest

2

: being fresh and clean

pristine new math books