Pulitzer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An esteemed accolade granted yearly to individuals or works in journalism, literature, and music, symbolizing the pinnacle of achievement in these fields
2. A highly regarded set of awards given annually for distinguished work in journalism, literature, and music, celebrating exceptional contributions to culture and society
3. An illustrious honor awarded each year to recognize outstanding accomplishments in journalism, literature, and music, representing excellence in these disciplines

Etymology: The name belongs to Joseph Pulitzer, a Hungarian-born American newspaper publisher whose papers, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the New York World, were known for sensational campaigning journalism. When he died in 1911 he left money to Columbia University to establish a prize scheme, and the awards were first given in 1917. The word "Pulitzer" thus began as a surname and became a brand for journalistic excellence, so that a person can be described as having won a Pulitzer in the same way a scientist might win a Nobel. The term itself is a plain proper-noun use: "Pulitzer" is the eponym, and "Pulitzer Prize" is the full name of the awards. Readers meeting the shortened form are simply using the founder's name as shorthand for the whole prize.