What does eminency mean?
Eminency is a formal noun denoting the state or quality of being eminent — that is, possessing outstanding distinction, high rank, or celebrated achievement within a particular field or society at large. A person's eminency might rest on scholarly accomplishment, artistic mastery, political influence, or moral authority, and the word carries a tone of deep respect and elevation. Less commonly, eminency can refer to an eminent person themselves, though this sense has largely faded from use. The word is closely related to, and now much rarer than, 'eminence', which has become the standard modern form; writers today who reach for this concept will almost always choose the latter. Rooted in Latin eminere, meaning 'to stand out' or 'to project', the term carries a vivid underlying image: to be eminent is, quite literally, to rise above one's surroundings so as to be plainly visible to all. Its connotations are uniformly positive and dignified.
The state or quality of being eminent; high distinction or renown.
"The university honoured him for the eminency he had achieved in the field of law."
Largely replaced by 'eminence' in contemporary usage.
An eminent person; someone of high rank or distinction (now rare).
"The hall was filled with the eminencies of the age, each more decorated than the last."
This sense is archaic; modern English would typically say 'notables' or 'dignitaries'.
Used when referring to multiple eminent persons or instances of distinction; rare in modern English.
"The ceremony gathered the eminencies of science and letters from across the continent."
Before it meant fame, 'eminency' simply meant standing out — literally projecting from a hillside, since its Latin root eminere means 'to jut out'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of eminency
Eminency derives from the Latin eminens (stem eminent-), the present participle of eminere, meaning 'to stand out' or 'to project', formed from ex- ('out') combined with a root relating to projecting or overhanging. The word entered English via Old French during the late medieval period, alongside its sibling form 'eminence', which ultimately prevailed in everyday usage. Cognates and relatives include 'eminent', 'eminently', and 'preeminent', all built on the same Latin participle stem.
Related word forms
How eminency is actually used
A formal, somewhat archaic word. In modern English, 'eminence' is strongly preferred in almost all contexts; 'eminency' survives mainly in older texts and elevated literary prose. As a capitalized title ('His Eminence'), the -ence form is standard.
Easily confused with eminency
'Eminence' is the far more common spelling for the quality of being distinguished; 'eminency' is a rarer, largely historical variant meaning the same thing, though 'Eminence' with a capital E also serves as the formal title for cardinals of the Catholic Church.