laureate

Laureate is a term used for a person who has been honored with a prize or distinction associated with the laurel, a traditional symbol of victory and honor. The word derives from Latin laureatus, from laurus, the laurel tree, and came to refer to someone crowned with laurel wreaths in classical times.

In antiquity, the laurel wreath signified victory by athletes, generals, and poets. Over centuries the term broadened to describe distinguished individuals who receive notable honors. In modern usage, a laureate is typically someone recognized for achievement in a particular field, often by a national or international prize.

Two common uses are Nobel laureates, recipients of the Nobel Prize in physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace, and economics; and poets laureate, official poets appointed to compose for public occasions in some countries, such as the United Kingdom and the United States. The title is usually used after the person’s name (e.g., Marie Curie, Nobel laureate).