Status vs. Prestige — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 26, 2023
Status is a social or professional position; prestige is the respect or admiration for that position.
Difference Between Status and Prestige
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Status refers to a person's rank or position in society. Prestige refers to the admiration or respect that status commands.
Status can be achieved or ascribed. Prestige is often the result of achievements linked to that status.
Status may not always carry prestige. Prestige often implies a high level of respect for someone’s status.
Status is more about social or professional position. Prestige is about the honor or esteem that comes with it.
Status can exist without prestige. Prestige typically implies elevated status.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Social or professional position
Respect or admiration for a position
Origin
Achieved or ascribed
Result of achievements
Association
Not always respected
Implies high respect
Focus
Position in society or profession
Honor or esteem associated with the status
Coexistence
Can exist without prestige
Implies elevated status
Compare with Definitions
Status
Legal or official standing.
The status of the case is still pending.
Prestige
Influence due to respect.
His opinion carries a lot of prestige.
Status
Recognition within a group.
He gained status among his peers.
Prestige
Recognition for achievements.
The scientist's work added to his prestige.
Status
Relative rank in society.
His status rose after the promotion.
Prestige
Respect or admiration.
The award brought her great prestige.
Status
Social or professional position.
Her status as a lawyer was well recognized.
Prestige
High standing or reputation.
The university has considerable prestige.
Status
Relative social or professional position; standing
An improvement in the status of women
Prestige
The level of respect at which a person or thing is regarded by others; standing
An act that boosted his prestige.
A job with low prestige.
Status
The situation at a particular time during a process
An update on the status of the bill
Prestige
Good reputation; honor
Her accomplishments lent a lot of prestige to the college.
Status
Position relative to that of others; standing
Her status is that of a guest.
Prestige
Great respect or importance
Doctors are usually treated with prestige.
Status
High standing; prestige
A position of status in the community.
Prestige
The quality of how good the reputation of something or someone is, how favourably something or someone is regarded.
Oxford has a university of very high prestige.
Status
(Law) The legal character or condition of a person or thing
The status of a minor.
Prestige
Delusion; illusion; trick.
Status
The state of affairs; the situation
What is the status of the negotiations?.
Prestige
Regarded as relatively prestigious; often, considered the standard language or language variety, or a part of such a variety.
Status
A person’s condition, position or standing relative to that of others.
Superstition is highly correlated with economic status.
Prestige
(video games) To start over at an earlier point in a video game with some type of bonus or reward.
Status
Or high standing.
Prestige
Delusion; illusion; trick.
The sophisms of infidelity, and the prestiges of imposture.
Status
A situation or state of affairs.
What's the status of the investigation?
New York is known for its status as a financial center.
Prestige
Weight or influence derived from past success; expectation of future achievements founded on those already accomplished; force or charm derived from acknowledged character or reputation.
Status
(legal) The legal condition of a person or thing.
Prestige
A high standing achieved through success or influence or wealth etc.;
He wanted to achieve power and prestige
Status
The state (of a Canadian First Nations person) of being registered under the Indian Act.
He is a status Indian.
Prestige
Esteem associated with a position.
The role has much prestige in the community.
Status
(social networking) A function of some instant messaging applications, whereby a user may post a message that appears automatically to other users, if they attempt to make contact.
I'm just about to update my status to "busy".
Status
(medicine) Short for status asthmaticus.}}
Status
State; condition; position of affairs.
Status
The relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society;
He had the status of a minor
The novel attained the status of a classic
Atheists do not enjoy a favorable position in American life
Status
A state at a particular time;
A condition (or state) of disrepair
The current status of the arms negotiations
Status
Condition or state of affairs.
The status of the project is on schedule.
Common Curiosities
How is status achieved?
Status can be achieved through personal efforts or ascribed at birth.
What is status?
Status refers to one's social or professional position.
Can status exist without prestige?
Yes, one can have status without necessarily having prestige.
What contributes to prestige?
Achievements, respect, and recognition contribute to prestige.
Is prestige always linked to high status?
Generally, prestige implies elevated status, but it’s not absolute.
What is prestige?
Prestige is the respect or admiration that a status commands.
Can someone have prestige without high status?
It’s less common, but one can have prestige in certain circles without high overall status.
What makes prestige important?
Prestige is important for social recognition and influence.
Can prestige influence behavior?
Yes, prestige can influence behavior and expectations in social settings.
Is status the same as power?
Not exactly. Status is a position, while power is the ability to influence.
How does society view status?
Society views status as a measure of one's rank or position.
Are status and prestige culturally dependent?
Yes, perceptions of status and prestige can vary across different cultures.
Can status change?
Yes, status can change due to various life events or achievements.
Is prestige only related to positive attributes?
Typically, prestige is associated with positive attributes and accomplishments.
Do professions have inherent status?
Some professions are inherently associated with certain status levels.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
